Speaking of Beer

OK, this time around we take a break from the obscure, regional, barely-distributed beers and tackle instead a couple of large-to-mid-sized relatively far-flung (within US borders at least) beers, from yes, you guessed it, the West Coast. Whew! Hey, if every show was about beer everyone in the world could get, we’d always be drinking Budweiser. The beers are both from California’s Bear Republic Brewery, and they are:

Red Rocket Ale [alternatives: Lagunitas Censored, Fat Tire, anything containing the word "amber" or "red']

and

Racer 5 India Pale Ale [alternatives: Bell's Two Hearted Ale, Stone IPA, any number of IPA's characterized by the word "aggressive"]

Get yours in time for the next show and the new Wachowski Brothers movie.

Prebeer Preamble: Today’s show is brought to you (literally) by the country of Brazil. Marcelo Carneiro da Rocha, SoB listener and brewmaster at Brazil’s first craft brewery, Cervejaria Colorado, contacted me recently and asked if I’d like to sample his wares. I said “”Well, duh”, and the result is this episode. Until this point, the Review Krew’s Brazilian beer experience has been limited to Xingu, a nice-try-maybe-but-next-time black lager. So now it’s time to find out what the land of anacondas and Carnival can do with a beer if it really tries…

Beer #1: First up is Cauim Pilsner, a bohemian-style Pilsner brewed with cassava root, which is itself the basis for a traditional Brazilian libation also called cauim. It pours out really pale, and some fearful comments get thrown around. Still, for the cause we soldier on. Are our worst fears confirmed, or does character eventually join the party?

Interbeer Interlude: Beer As Folk. “Alan Shapiro.” SBS-Imports is the coolest beer and cider importer on the planet, and that includes you, Mr. Merchant du Vin (if that is your name…). What exactly is the role of the importer and why should you care? Tune in to this fascinating conversation I had recently with SBS-Imports founder Alan Shapiro at my local Whole Foods, and you will find the answer. (Part 1 of 2)

Beer #2: Next up is Appia Weiss, a hefeweizen brewed using orange-blossom honey produced by killer bees. I’m not sure why, but I find that extremely cool. Does the beer live up to it’s exotic expectations?

Beer Geek Moment: Brewing Water. The underpraised ingredient that makes up an overwhelming majority of that beer in your hand gets a long-overdue Moment of its own. What’s the big deal about lowly old water? Turns out, plenty.

Postbeer Postscript/Bonus Round: To help the numbers roll out smoothly, I surprise Mike and the Krew with two more Brazillian beers, DaDo Ilex and Eisenbahn Dunkel. We give each a once over (hickory?!?), then get to the reporting. Which of Marcelo’s generous offerings do we like best? Tune in and find out!

Alan Shapiro photo courtesy of Sheila Unwin. Thanks Sheila!

 

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If you go back a ways with me, you probably know that my initial podcasting experience included a nice big dose of Joe Murphy. Back in the Day, I would periodically swing by Draco Vista studios with some beer for the fine folks at the Dragon Page–and later Michael and Evo’s–Wingin’ It! podcast. Joe almost always passed on the beer, but was a role model in conducting yourself with restraint and class, and maintaining your sense of humor, when all around you was going to chaos. I took Joe’s lessons to heart, and hopefully some of that comes through on Speaking of Beer.

Anyway, here’s a tribute compiled by Tee Morris and everyone at the Joe Murphy Memorial Fund, with far-flung testimonials reflecting on Joe on the first anniversary of his passing.

I wonder what Joe would think of my new favorite beverage, Jones Cream Soda…

 

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