Speaking of Beer

Prebeer Preamble: As autumn turns to winter, beer enthusiasts’ tastes tend to go dark. Well, I’m here to accomodate, with a couple of black brews and a whole lot of dark beer talk. I’m joined by Michael R. Mennenga, fellow Farpoint podcaster, beer cuisine afficianado, and fan of stouts, porters, and all beers black as we tour the Western Hemisphere through glasses darkly.

Beer #1: Mike and I start off in South America with a little Xingu Black Beer from Brazil. It seems like an obscure style from a country that’s not exactly a brewing powerhouse, yet it’s pretty widely available throughout the world. Are we talking a cult gem, or is it pandering to the lowest common palate denominator?

Interbeer Interlude: Burpin’ Legends. “Guinness: King of Stouts?” The most famous and best-selling dark beer in the world, a dry stout called Guinness, is the stuff of legend in the beerniverse. But is this dark emperor really wearing any clothes? With a look at some relevant data and the help of a roomful of volunteer tasters, we dive into the myth that is Guinness.

Beer #2: Mike and I now move on to Colorado to try an English style originally brewed for Russian nobles. That would be Avery Brewing Company’s The Czar, an Imperial Stout. We’re talking black, we’re talking strong, we’re talking….hitting our tongues with hammers??

Beer Geek Moment: “Beer Color.” So just where does beer get its color from, and how do brewers measure and predict the hues of their brews? If these questions vex you, you’ve come to the right place!

Postbeer Postscript: Still sipping our Czars, Mike and I go through the scoring on these beers. It’s a dark day for one of these black beers, but which one? Take a listen and find out!

[For help with the taste-test, special thanks go out to Evo Terra, Sheila Unwin, Michael and Lorrie Mennenga, Mr. and Mrs. Doug Kress, Jack Mangan, Sterling the Southern Gentleman, Chris the Cheesecake Lady, and Debbie DaMoodyMom. Also, thanks once again to Jack Mangan for lending his talents as the Voice of Wikipedia.]

 

 Show #17: The Wort of Darkness: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (3070)

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!

 

 Show #16: Living Dead Beers: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2950)

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 Oktō 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!

 

 Show #15:Fest Beer Fest!: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2136)

Prebeer Preamble: Apparently SoB offends the sensibilities of my fellow beercasters at The Beer Report and Craft Beer Radio. Reading between the lines of their parody of Show #10’s “little cricket” skit, my show just isn’t “manly” enough for them. In response, I tackle that most metal of brews: fruit beer!

Beer #1: In response to a voicemail from Andrea in Chicago, our quest for a fruity gateway beer begins. First up is Unibroue’s Éphémère (Apple). I’m once again joined by budding beer enthusiast Devona as we sample this apple-infused witbier from Quebec. Is it just apple juice with a buzz, or is there more to this spritzy concoction?

Interbeer Interlude: Beerlosophy Essay . “My Problem with Citrus”. What starts as a rant about squirting fruit juice in beer morphs into an examination of individualism, and ultimately a plea for tolerance and understanding of our fellow human beings. Especially those who make beer.

Beer #2: Devona and I now turn our attention to Lindeman’s Framboise Lambic. It’s a different belgian style underneath all those berries. Is it more newbie-friendly than the Éphémère? Also, Devona plans her Christmas Eve dinner.

Beer Geek Moment: “The Lambic.” When is a beer something more than a beer? When it’s a lambic. The secrets of Belgium’s most mysterious style are laid bare, as we find out “lambic” is most definitely NOT synonymous with “fruit beer.”

Postbeer Postscript: Devona and I report our scores on these fruity brews. It’s pretty clear what the favorite was on this day, but will either do the trick for Andrea and folks like her?

[Note: If you're interested in Michael and Evo's Wingin' It! beer openers, as heard on the show, look here]

 

 Show #14: The Fruity Girly Beer Show: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2063)

Prebeer Preamble: Many beer lovers love their India Pale Ales, and who can blame them? Today’s show spotlights this big, hoppy style, with a little twist: the two beers come from opposite sides of the USA. It’s sort of the Tupac Shakur/Notorious B.I.G. of beercasting. I guess.

Beer #1: I’m joined by my brother-in-law, Dave Cavanaugh, for some Shipyard IPA from Portland, ME. Dave’s an admitted hefeweizen/fruit beer fan. Looks like he picked the wrong day to be on the podcast.

Interbeer Interlude: Eat Your Beer. “Bratwurst in Guinness.” In a new recurring segment, I’m joined by beer cuisine enthusiast (and podcaster) Michael R. Mennenga, and we talk about ways to use beer in cooking beyond Beer-Butt Chicken. Mike applies his years of experimentation with using brews in food prepration in giving tips, general principles, and a kick-ass (and easy!) recipe.

Beer #2: Having been pleasantly surprised by the first beer, Dave reaches eagerly for the next, Lagunitas IPA. On a sunny northern Cali day, we sip the beer and discuss the influence California’s largest cash crop may (or may not) have had on the finished brew. Oh, and I go through the whole “why they’re called IPAs” thing.

Beer Geek Moment: “Hop Varieties”. Like most crops, hops come in a number of different strains. Today we look at the influence of different varieties in crafting a beer’s flavor, aroma, and bitterness. Warning: many variety names may or may not be mispronounced in this Moment. Feedback is welcome.

Postbeer Postscript: Dave and I score the beers, factoring in flavor, mouthfeel, and the potential baked-ness of the brewers. Does this east coast/west coast thing end as tragically as the last one?

 

 Show #13: Bicoastal IPAs: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2209)

Prebeer Preamble: This show is brought to you by the number “2″: two versions of two beers in two cities with two co-drinkers. We continue focusing on breweries what started back in “tha day,” this time enjoying both of the beers at their points of origin.

Beer #1: I’m joined by local friend Matt Brown in sunny Chico, California for an afternoon’s drinking at the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. Though we have many beers to choose from, we select the flagship beer, the Pale Ale, for close scrutiny. We’re shocked to discover Sierra Nevada brews two different Pale Ale recipes: one for bottling, one for draft. How do these different beers with the same name compare?

Interbeer Interlude: Beer As Folk. “Fritz Maytag” Mr. Maytag fleshes out the tale of how he turned the once-dilapidated Anchor Brewing Co. into the template for the “microbrewery revolution”. Today we find out how and when Anchor’s stable of beers evolved. Let’s just say that when Burt Reynolds was running bootleg Coors cross-country, Fritz was brewing a barleywine in San Francisco. Part 2 of 2.

Beer #2: I suddenly find myself at the Bridgeport Alehouse in Portland, Oregon where I’m joined by my friend Jason for a Bridgeport IPA. In fact, on this day there were two IPA’s, one out of the traditional forced-CO2 tap, and one on “cask”, where the beer is naturally carbonated in the keg and pumped out at cellar temperatures for thisty patrons. We try each, and much talk of tiny bubbles ensues.

Beer Geek Moment: “Does Size Matter?” Bashing large breweries is easy, but is it fair? A special guest voice provides musings on whether beer quality is destined to suffer when a brewery becomes sufficiently large. Food for thought my friends, food for thought…

Postbeer Postscript: In a whiplash scoring binge, we cover four beers and hundreds of miles as Matt, Jason and I report out on our reactions to everything sampled today. I believe it’s here that I need to send a huge thank-you to Michael R. Mennenga for making this show sound soooooo much better than ass.

 

 Show #12: Beers of the Pioneers, Part 2: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1820)

Prebeer Preamble: Well, we’re about 30 years down the pike from the origins of the “microbrewery revolution.” Time to check in and see how some of the early entries are holding up…

Beer #1: I’m joined by my friend Robert Short to try some ESB from Seattle’s Redhook Brewery. It’s a friendly style from a very successful older micro. Do Rob and I hold its success against it?

Interbeer Interlude. Beer As Folk: “Fritz Maytag.” OK, just shoot me now. My short list of beer-related experiences to have before I die just got a big ol’ checkmark on it. I talked with the legendary brewer and entrepreneur about his history with the Anchor Brewing Co., his struggles to stay small, and what it was like to be a craft brewer decades before the term was even invented. Here’s an analogy: Adam Curry::podcasting, Fritz Maytag::craft brewing. Part 1 of 2.

Beer #2: Rob and I now try some Red Tail Ale from California’s Mendocino Brewing Company. In the glass it looks nearly identical to Red Hook. Do the similarities continue into the tasting, or are there surprises in store for your two thirsty commentators?

Beer Geek Moment: “What is a Microbrewery?” It’s a term that’s in its twilight years, but it’s still instructive to try and wrap your head around what it once meant.

Postbeer Postscript: Time to score these puppies up! Do Rob and I show any respect for these once-groundbreaking brews, or is this a case of “meet the new boss, same as the old boss“?

 

 Show #11: Beers of the Pioneers, Part 1: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1655)

Prebeer Preamble: Look out kids, I’m shaking things up this week. Portland, Oregon’s Tuck’s Brewery is about to go bye-bye, but before it does I’m shining the spotlight on some of its quirky quaffs and its mad-genius brewer, Max Tieger. In order to do this, the usual format is going out the window.

Beers #1&2: I’m joined by Jason Newsom, my Portland pal and local area musician as we tackle a nitro-injected Imperial Stout and a Belgian IPA. Sure, we are enjoying these one-of-a-kind beers, but we’re also working up our courage to talk to Max, who Jason describes in terms of an old Seinfeld character.

Intersegment Interlude: A little skit courtesy of Karen from Kalifornia. Karen totally rocks! And she lives just down the street from the Stone Brewery (he says, with only a hint of jealousy…)

Beer As Folk: “Max Tieger“. Well, turns out Max was happy to talk with us. Between serving customers and filling corny kegs, Max had a lot to say about his beer, his brewery, and his new brewpub where he’ll be taking his whole endeavor to a new level. Best of all, I managed to get through the entire interview without being banned!

Postscript: I come back and wrap things up with a little of what Jack Mangan calls “outrobabble.”

 

 Show #10: Put a Tieger In Your Beer: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1638)

Prebeer Preamble: One of the last defenses for those that argue in favor of Macrobrew goes something like “Well, it’s great after mowing the lawn” OK, but have you tried one of these summer brews post-yardwork?

Beer #1 Hoegaarden White Beer. I’m once more joined by SoB stalwart Eric in the triple-digit temps of my back yard to get an “in-context” experience. Much discussion of Belgian witbier follows. No mention is made of the fact that we didn’t actually mow any lawns.

Interbeer Interlude: Beer As Folk. “Big Brew ‘06″. I dropped by local homebrew supply store Brewer’s Connection this past National Homebrew Day to talk to a bunch of hombrewers all making the same recipe: a kölsch summer ale. How’d it turn out? Tune in and see!

Beer #2: With an actual lawnmower droning in the background, Eric and I now hoist a couple of Alaskan Summer Ales. This kölsch-style brew is an Alaskan interpretation of a German beer. After the effort of sorting all that out, are we refreshed by this light-bodied ale?

Beer Geek Moment: “Wheat and Beer.” Much beer talk swirls around the distinction between wheat beers, witbeers, weisses and weizens. Let’s straighten all of this out, before it comes to actual blows.

Postbeer Postscript: After two blasts of refreshment on a hot summer’s day, are Eric and I freindly with the scores? Or does the mere thought of yardwork turn us grumpy?

 

 Show #9: Alternative Lawnmower Beers: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1729)

Prebeer Preamble: On the brink of America’s 230th, we’re plunging into two beers from the place where all this hoo-ha began. My beer-guide is Jeffrey Nichols, a denizen of the City of Brotherly Love. Light those firecrackers kids, and let’s start drinking!

Beer #1: Jeff and I begin with a history lesson: Yuengling Traditional Lager, from America’s oldest brewery. This brew has been around for over 175 years; how does all that history translate into the drinking experience? And what, exactly, is the deal with Pennsylvania beer laws?

Interbeer Inberlude: Beer As Folk. “We the People…Have Questions About Beer” You guys ask great questions like: “Why aren’t bitters bitter?” “What’s a weisse?” and “What’s up with beer and styrofoam cups?” I answer them. Please submit other beer questions via voicemail or a short mp3 file. I’d like to make this a regular feature!

Beer #2: Risking temporal whiplash, Jeff and I now fast-forward to present-day Philly to try some Victory Hop Devil Ale. These guys are relatively new in the “big bold American microwbrew” arena, dominated mostly by California and Oregon. Will this beery East Coast/West Coast thing end in tragedy, or does the melting pot hold room for all?

Beer Geek Moment: “Prohibition.” America’s Noble Experiment changed the face of the U.S. brewing scene, and its effects are still very much alive and well in the beer most Americans drink every day.

Postbeer Postscript: So when it comes to the scores, which Philly beer do Jeff and I favor: the ancient (by American standards) stalwart, or the flashy young upstart? And are we moved to break into a chorus of “My Country Tis Of Thee”? (Hint: No)

 

 Show #8: Philadelphia Beerdom!: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1596)