The Beeriniverse has its share of luminaries: people whose hard work, vision and creativity have been instrumental in bringing about the Good Beer Renaisance we are all enjoying today. Names like Fritz Maytag, Jim Koch, Tomme Arthur, and Sam Calagione spring immediately to mind, but along with those and a few other heavy-hitters, there is a “long tail” of thousands of passionate beer people whose collective endeavors are raising the quality of our favorite libation. Today’s show is a conversation I had with one such hard-working individual fighting the good fight to raise the profile of what beer is, and ought to be, in the mind of the public at large. His name is Mikal Merlina, and he works for Whole Foods Market. Yes, he’s the guy you see stocking the beer case and checking on the supply of cheese in the cooler, but he’s also much more. Mikal has used his position to educate and influence hundreds and hundreds of people as to what makes a good beer, how to enjoy beer more, and how decide which beer to purchase out of the stunning variety he was able to get on to the shelves at his store. It was a pleasure to sit down and talk with him and find out how the world looks from the perspective of a foot soldier in the craft beer revolution.

And so we come to the end…

After two big and strong (if not universally loved) brews, why not change it up? Because big and strong is what’s called for this time of year, so bring on some more! Foregoing the Belgian theme, round three of this post-Thanksgiving evening show turns to a different Holiday thread: the gift. We cap things off with Founder’s Breakfast Stout, a generous present from The Beer Report that was part of the annual Beer Safari Beer Exchange. Of the guests (and once again that’s my lovely wife Carolyn, Brewing Compadre Shawn, Sheila Dee, Evo Terra, and Jack Mangan) who’ve been struggling with the Belgian beers, will this big stout from the Midwest be a welcome thing? Tune in and find out!

Picture by Groucho from The Beer Report

Beer #2 for the evening is Delirium Noël, the holiday entry from the storied brewers at Belgium’s Huyghe Brewery, who’ve brought us many other fine beers with “Delerium” in their names. Amongst the post-Thanksgiving crowd (to review, that’s my lovely wife Carolyn, Brewing Compadre Shawn, Sheila Dee, Evo Terra, and Jack Mangan) the gloves come off, as the relative merits of beer #1 vs. beer #2, or Belgian beer vs. non-Belgian beer in general, get a surprisingly heated going-over. There’s even a couple of cheap shots hurled around the table, but then, this is the Holidays. Who’s dissing whom while getting more and more jolly? Tune in and find out!

Thanks to The Beer Report, Should I Drink That?, My Life as a Foodie, Davis on Draft, The Good Beer Show, Big Foamy Head, Brain Gravy, and Craft Beer Radio (collecively known as the good folks at Beer Safari) for once again inviting me into the fun. Enjoy!

Today’s show is another Beer As Folk interview, this time with Mike Mellow (yes, that is his real name) from Ballast Point Brewing Company in cerves-o-centric San Deigo. Mike was in town recently (unfortuantely, technical problems intervened to make it longer ago than I would like) to host a beer event at a local Whole Foods Market, and I managed to squeeze in a few minutes to talk about Ballast Point, and what it offers in a market already crowded by such crowd-pleasers as AleSmith and Stone. Hint: everybody wins, especially the beer lovers.

Next is Show 56: Liquid Christmas 2008: Vrolijk Kerstfeest!, in which we enjoy a little Dilerium Noel, as well as some Gouden Carolus Noel, two top-shelf Belgian holiday beers.

And somewhere in there will be the Beer Safari Holiday Beer Exchange Video Special (or whatever it’s called) to which I’ve contributed a short and theoretically humorous segment like I did last year.

And by a strange confluence of unrelated events, much of the above content features significant contributions by Friend of SoB Evo Terra. No, he’s not taking over the show, that’s just how the hop-smeared chips fell. I mean, the bastard’s got his own damn podcast, he doesn’t need mine. Anyway, strap in and enjoy my gift to y’all: actual honest-to-Ninkasi content! w00t!

First Up: Nøgne Ø India Pale Ale. Neither Evo nor I can pronounce the name, but it’s story is a great one. Imagine West Coast American attitude filtered through the people who brought you lutefisk…Isn’t that an oxymoron of some sort? We’ll see what happens when American attiude meets Viking vigor.

Sudsy Song Segment: For a little pop with our hops, here’s a ditty from one of my personal favorite bands (shared in common with my pals at The Beer Report), Too Much Joy. It’s their song King of Beers, which has already been played on this podcast, but this time it’s the “rare accoustic version.” Oooooh…

Last Up: The beer journey now takes a turn, as Evo and I leave the style of IPA altogether and dive into Schneider and Son’s Hopfen Weisse. A collaboration between brewers on separate continents, this amped-up, hopped-up hefe could easily sail off the proverbial rails. So..does it? Tune in and find out!

Nøgne Ø India Pale Ale [alternatives: Stone IPA, Sierra Nevada Celebrationa Ale, Victory Hop Devil Ale]

and

Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfen-Weisse (Schneider version)[alternatives: sorry, dude...OK, maybe Aventinus Weizenbock, if you sprinke some fresh hops on top...]

The show will mark the return of a certain Friend of SoB, but I won’t say who it is, to maintain some semblance of suspense. Even though you probably guessed it already.

Today’s show is a Beer As Folk interview with Zak Davis from the Shmaltz Brewing Company. If that name has you scratching your head, you might recognize their flagship beer, He’Brew Genesis Ale. Even if you haven’t tried it, you’d no doubt recognize that cool Hebrew-inspired font on their labels. In any case, Zak and I chatted at a local Whole Foods prior to a tasting, and I found out there’s a lot more to Shmaltz than wildly imaginative beers combined with hilarious and unappologetic Semitism. For instance, they have surprising ties to sideshow freaks. Oh, and zombies, too.

Next up is a Beer As Folk show in which we find out all about the Shmaltz Brewing Company, most familiar as the crafters of the He’Brew line of beers. They brew tons of great beers and any one of them would accompany the show in tremendous fashion. However, in honor of the coming autumn season, as well as for reasons that will be apparent upon hearing the interview, I’m going to recommend you try and scare up (so to speak) Freaktoberfest, from the Coney Island Lager line of Schmaltz beers.

L’Chaim!

Prebeer Preamble: To quote Samwise Gamgee: “Well, I’m back.” Specifically, I’m ba-ha-ha-hack back in black, because on the show today I address the musical question: What happens when you put a bunch of party-goers into a studio, ply them liberally with very very strong black beer, and continually pester them to choose which one they like best? I don’t know what you’d call it, but I call it a Smackdown!

Round 1: East Coast vs. West Coast. We start with a couple of brews from either side of the Mississippi: Old Viscosity from California’s Port Brewing Company and Storm King Imperial Stout from Pennsylvania’s Victory Brewing Company. In a blind tasting, the crowd sips and talks and chews it over. Ultimately, only one can rule. Which one will it be?

Interbeer Interlude: Beer As Folk.Tomme Arthur, brewmaster for the Port Brewing and Lost Abbey beers, gave me a few minutes during a recent beer dinner at my local Whole Foods to talk about his beers and the joy of having a job that “doesn’t suck.” That’s “doesn’t suck” in the same sense as “screwing a porn star doesn’t suck.”

Round 2: Stout vs. Porter. Next I trot out two huge brews for the amusement of all. Titans The Abyss (from Oregon’s Deschutes Brewing Co.) and Decadence Anniversary Ale Imperial Porter (from San Diego’s AleSmith Brewing Co.) duke it out, and leave the crowd humbled and in the throes of massive indecision when it comes to choosing a favorite. But in the end, only one legend can prevail.

Sudsy Song Segment: Possible Oscar “All Out of Beer“. The taps have run dry and the crowd is restless. The party host serenades them to the tune of…well..let’s just say ’70’s AM radio sure had some catchy tunes…

Final Round: Now everyone’s liberally lubricated, let’s do some math! Each taster rated each beer, and the scores are tallied to determine the Best in Show. Who’s the king of this pitch-black hill? Tune in and find out!

[HUGE shout-outs to tasters Doug Kress, Thomas a.k.a geistbear, Emily and Enormous from Australia, Tim Ademec, C.A. Sizemore, Michael R. Mennenga, Kris Mayo, Brian Brown, and Brewing Compadre Shawn]

Helloooo…Is this thing on? Just how do you work one of these “post” gizmos again? Yeah, sorry, things have gone a little fallow around here lately. I am, however, still recording and have lots of good sudsy content in the “tap line” (am I pushing this too far?). It’s just (sadly and by necessity) paced a little more on the “glacial” side. SoB’s still alive, promise. To prove my point, go out–I challenge you–and scrape together the following four beers:

AleSmith’s Decadence Anniversary Imperial Porter [alternative: Flying Dog's Gonzo Imperial Porter]
Deschutes’ The Abyss [completely viable and more realistic alternative: Deschutes' Black Butte XX]
Port’s Old Viscosity [alternative: Oskar Blues' Ten Fidy]

and

Victory Brewing Company’s Storm King Imperial Stout [alternative: Stone Imperial Russian Stout]

Show 52 will be big, black, and bloated (I’ll pass on making a joke…), just like they were in the good ol’ days.

Today we enter the Build-A-Beer Workshop, for a little beer-geek talk about improving your homebrewing efforts. I’m joined by my Brewing Compadre Shawn as we pit two of our home-brewed babies in a head-to-head comparison. Both are modeled after Stone’s Arrogant Bastard Ale, the first being our original “Monkey Bastard,” and the second it’s “evolved” descendant, the “Neanderthal Bastard.” [Yes, I'm aware that Neanderthals were not in fact descended from monkeys but rather share a common ancestor with them, so off my case, dang it!] To make things a little more entertaining, Shawn and I had already been geeking out on beer rather enthusiastically before we fired up the microphone. So you get what you get: two guys drinking and talking and analyzing beer, all in the name of the perpetual quest for brewing the perfect pint.

Welcome to the new phase of Speaking of Beer: leaner (except when it’s bloated), meaner (except when it’s nice), and more focused (except when it wanders).
Today’s episode is a special Beer As Folk interview with Jef Verserle of Belgium’s Brouwerij Van Steenberge, best known for their outstanding brews Gulden Draak, Piraat, and Augustijn. The brewery has been in Jef’s family for seven generations, so as you can imagine he has a lot to talk about. The history, the philosophy, and the craft, both ancient and modern, of a world-class brewery all get a go-round in this conversation. So pour up a nice tall Gulden Draak (my personal favorite), or any of the other Van Steenberge beers, and enjoy the show!

Thanks, Lizzie!

That being said, I have gotten so much good stuff out of SoB, and treasure my experiences participating in this whole “new media” deal. The people I’ve met, both face-to-face and in more electronic ways, have uniformly been fantastic, and I count many of them among my closest friends. The opportunities the podcast has given me to speak with passionate brewers from all over the world, as well as the often unsung folks in the Beerniverse who support them, are more than I probably deserve, and I am very grateful indeed. And of course, the mind-blowingly good beer I’ve uncovered in my explorations has enriched my life, and hopefully enhanced yours as well.

So…I can’t really do the show, but don’t want to give it up. After a long (and I do mean long) stint on the horns of this dilemma, vacillating wildly between bagging the whole thing and sucking it up and grinding on, I’ve come up with a compromise that just might work. To wit: the old format is gone. Episodes will focus on a single segment: an interview, a homebrewing experience, side-by-side sampling of a couple of beers, etc. I’ll record as opportunity presents itself, and can thus make no promises as to release schedule. Just stay subscribed, and good stuff will come down the pike when it happens. I think in this way I can keep my passion burning sufficiently hot, keep the shows varied and interesting, and continue flying the flag for great beer. And it doesn’t mean that a “full blown” show is out of the realm of possibility, it’s just that when it does happen it’ll be something I want to do rather than something I have to do. I believe strongly that podcasting, and new media in general, is about keeping love alive and spontaneous, not grinding it up in a media machine. If I wanted that, I’d go into traditional broadcasting. And, just to be crystal clear, I don’t want that.

Whew! All that being said, the next episode will be an interview, but that doesn’t mean you can’t drink along. Scare up some

Gulden Draak [alternatives/additional beers: Piraat, Augustijn, Bruegel, Bornem Dubbel Bornem Tripel]

I think it will accompany the show quite well.

Please feel free to let me know what you think of all this. I do this for you guys. OK, and for the beer….

…but I don’t hold it against you, Jonathan Coulton, because I really enjoy your music. Here’s myself, da Man, and lovely wife (and “Voice of the Beer Geek Moment”â„¢) Carolyn, after a phenomenal show in Phoenix with “JoCo” and astoundingly good opening act Paul and Storm. No real connection with beer here, but how about 16 seconds of “Still Alive“:

More actual beer stuff to follow, as this same evening I had an awesome interview with an amazingly hardcore brewer, to be released shortly.

Beer #1: The first of two brews from Bear Republic Brewery, Red Rocket Ale starts us off easy,or so the numbers led me to believe. Is my much-touted distrust of the term “amber” going to taint the experience?

Interbeer Interlude: Beer As Folk. “Alan Shapiro’s Reunion Beer Project.” The four people drinking beer on today’s show have something in common besides DNA: we all lost our father to cancer. SBS-Imports founder Alan Shapiro also had his life touched by the disease. His response: team up with his old brewing kronies (including Pete Slosberg of Pete’s Wicked Ale fame) and produce a beer for a cause. How did last year’s Reunion Beer go, and what’s pouring in ‘08? Tune in and find out!

Beer #2: Next up is Racer 5 IPA. In California “hoppy” is practically the state motto, so expectations are skewed accordingly. Is Clan Beer Guy impressed with this one, or is it just another one-note resin bomb?

Beer Geek Moment: California Common Beer. The most awkwardly-named style of beer has a fascinating history, and as it turns out has earned an honored place in brew history. What’s its story and how does it relate to SoB episodes 12 and 13? Take a listen and see!

Postbeer Postscript: Yes, we are all children of the same mother. Yes, we share 50% of each other’s DNA. But when it comes to scoring up these CA beers, do we share a brain as well? The answer may well surprise you!

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!

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…

Cauim Pilsner [alternatives: Lagunitas Pils, Pilsner Urquell]

and

Appia Weiss [alternatives: Pyramid Hefeweizen, Three Floyds Gumballhead, Samuel Adams' Summer Ale]

Both brews are from the Cervejaria Colorado, Brazil’s first craft brewer in the modern age. Prepare for some good beer and very, very poor pronunciation.

I compose this post on or about the second anniversary of the Speaking of Beer podcast, and it’s been an outstanding 24 months filled with all kinds of beery good times. To celebrate this podcasting milestone (2 years is still considered a “milestone” in the podosphere, isn’t it?), here’s a super-deluxe souped-up MicroBrewed segment from Tee Morris and Paul from Des Moines. They conclude the epic “Des Moines series” at local brewpub Racoon River Brewing Company, and with the help of bar manager Mike Crownover wend their way through RRBC’s sampler tray. Beer-love practically oozes from their pores as they enjoy some of the best the Midwest has to offer. Enjoy!

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Apparently, beer-drinking scientists have a tough academic road ahead of them. Sorry, Cathy the Beer Guy’s Sister…

Also, if you know a beer-snubbing wine snob, lay this story on them. Apparently, wine causes more brain damage than beer!

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?

Gordon. (from Oskar Blues Brewing Company) [alternatives: Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA, and that's about it]

and

Ten Fidy (from…er…Oskar Blues Brewing Company…) [alternatives: Port Brewing Co.'s Old Viscosity, and that's about it]

So, there you have it. Scare up the brews, fire up your beer-can-launching fridge, and let’s get serious…

Prebeer Preamble: Dark beers stir their own special passion in the beer enthusiast, and it’s been a while since this show has simply reveled in the blackness. Well the wait is over, because today is all about the special magic that roasted, toasted, and even charred grains bring to the beer-drinking experience. The black style known as stout has many sub categories, promising many similar shows to come, but for now we’re going to look at the two ends of the stout spectrum.

Beer #1: I’m joined by a slimmed-down Draco Vista Review Krew (just Mike, Tim, and Brian this time) as we start off in left field with Hitachino Nest Sweet Stout (Lacto) from Japan’s Kiuchi Brewery. Brewed in a storied sake brewery yet made in the traditional milk stout style, this one starts out as a bit of a head-scratcher. Then we actually try it, and everything changes…

Interbeer Interlude: MicroBrewed. “The Royal Mile.” In his quixotic attempt to prove that Portland needs to abdicate its “beervana” status in favor of Des Moines, Iowa, Tee Morris (along with Paul and Andrew) lands at a thoroughly British pub in the heart of the Grain Belt. The night is getting long, and the slightly sloppy happiness that comes with a pub crawl is getting difficult to ignore. And that’s why we love this stuff…

Beer #2: Speaking of sloppy, the next beer really cranks up the warm-and-fuzzies, as we pole vault over the other stout categories and end up in the Imperial realm, with Great Divide’s Yeti. It’s a great big gush-fest as all the stout fans in the room find themselves with the embodiment of the style amplified on every possible axis.

Liquid Literature: “Guinness: The 250 Year Quest for the Perfect Pint by Bill Yenne” Another book review for you by our Eclectic Librarian, Anna from Washington. This time Anna examines a tome detailing the history of Ireland’s Guinness Brewery. So from the historical perspective, is Guinness truly the “perfect pint”, or simply another example of mass-produced and heavily compromised “product”?

Postbeer Postscript: After the Yeti, you know the numbers are going to be big. Just how big? Well you’ll have to tune in and find out. And what’s with Tim foisting a patented SoB quasi-scientific glassware test on the proceedings at the last minute? I mean, didn’t he listen to Show 35?

Hitachino Nest Sweet Stout (Lacto) [alternatives: Young's Double Chocolate Stout, Sam Adam's Cream Stout]

and

Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout [alternatives: Three Floyds' Dark Lord Imperial Stout, Stone Imperial Russian Stout, Deschutes Brewery's The Abyss]

If you like your beer black and/or big, this will be a show for you!

Prebeer Preamble: Today’s show changes things up, as we spend the entire episode in The Build-A-Beer Workshop. Back on August 19th, 2007, my brewing compadre Shawn and I decided we would brew up two batches of beer simultaneously. This would be Shawn’s third batch of homebrew, and the first on which he’d take point. Me, I thought I’d step up the complexity a bit and do a larger-volume boil. From these slightly ambitious decisions came two interesting brews and lots of hard-knocks lessons about homebrewing. This episode delves into that day deeply, and follows the fruits of our labor through till the end.

Part 1: The Day Itself. Highlights of our brew day, including a salty interjection or two when things don’t go our way. Plus, Shawn and I try to talk ourselves into a good mood, and give a little informaiton about how we came up with the recipes. What you won’t hear is the opressive sound of triple-digit temperatures.

Interbeer Interlude: Beer As Folk: “Peter Zein, part 2.” I continue my conversation with AleSmith Brewing Company’s owner and brewmaster. We talk a little about recipes, the hop “crisis”, and the future of AleSmith. Plus, Peter lets us in on how anyone can brew up their own version of one of AleSmith’s tasty brews.

Part 2: The Fates of the Beers. After their difficult births, each beer embarks on a different path. Shawn’s hoppy IPA gets a thorough going-over (and a name) from hop-headed friend-of-SoB Evo Terra, while my freaky Imperial Stout enters a contest on Wingin’ It 3D to see if it can out-Samuel-Jackson a similar beer brewed by Thomas from Flagstaff.

Liquid Literature: “Brewing Classic Styles by Jamil Zainasheff and John Palmer”. Speaking of Thomas, he delivers this excellent review of a brewing tome that should be strongly considered for any homebrewer’s library. Thomas has even taken at least one recipe for a spin. How’d it turn out?

Part 3: Lessons Learned. We once again flash back to brew day, and find Shawn and I in a reflective mood. Just what did we take from this less-than-perfect brewing experience that will make us better brewers? Tune in and find out!

Prebeer Preamble: The word “business” is unlikely to get the average beer enthusiast’s blood pumping, yet it is often the single most influential underlying factor in any given aspect of our lives, beer included. Today we shine the spotlight on the world of business as it applies to beer. You see, the craft beer market has been booming in recent years, while the Megabrewers’ sales have remained flat. Interesting strategies have emerged as a result, as we shall see…

Beer #1: I’m joined by the Draco Vista Review Krew (this time around it’s Mike, Brian, Tim, Thomas, and Kris) as we dive in to Green Valley Brewing Co.’s Wild Hop Organic Lager. Ooooh, organic. This must be from one of those hippy commune nanobreweries, right? Uh….no.

Interbeer Interlude: Beer As Folk “Peter Zein.” AleSmith Brewing Company from San Diego, California, is a prototypical craft brewery: owned and operated by homebrewers, prone to experiemtation, and prioritizes the quality of the beer above all other concerns. I was honored to talk with head brewer (and owner) Peter Zein about what it’s like to balance the joy and passion of brewing great beer with the cold equations of running a business (part 1 of 2).

Beer #2: Next the Krew pops open some Stone Mill Pale Ale, again from “Green Valley“. The beer itself takes back seat to a discussion of truth in advertising, as there is no mention of the true brewer’s name anywhere on the packaging.

Beer Geek Moment: The Hop Shortage of 2008. If I had a nickel for every time someone’s asked me about the current “hop crisis”, well…I’d have a lot of nickels! Today we try to get to the bottom of things. Are we truly at Threat Level “Red” in regards to hops and beer? [note: wholesale hop prices have risen beyond those quoted in this Moment. The point, however, still stands....]

Postbeer Postscript: The talk of business strategies has pushed aside some of the evaluation today, but with the numbers comes what folks really think. And what exactly do we think of these to micro-macros? Tune in and find out!

Wild Hop Lager [alternatives: Yuengling Traditional Lager, JW Dundee's Original Honey Brown]

and

Stone Mill Organic Pale Ale [alternatives: Bass Ale, Saranac Pale Ale, Samuel Smith's Organically Produced Ale]

Both beers are USDA Certified Orgainc, and no, that’s not the theme. Let’s just say that scratching the surface of their brewer, the “Green Valley Brewing Company” reveals something almost sinister…

Prebeer Preamble: As the screaming ice-banshee howls of a winter wind shake your constitution to its very core, nothing brings you back to heartening feelings of summer warmth like a really, really strong beer. This has been the general operating principle for centuries, and here in the 21st, America’s west coast is stepping up to the winter warmer challenge. Today I’m joined by homebrewing compadre Shawn, as we sample a pair of southern California brews engineered to put a little fire in your furnace.

Beer #1: Shawn and I start our quest for relief from Arizona’s mild chill with AleSmith’s Old Numbskull Barleywine Style Ale. Having never tried a beer modeled after northern Europe’s quintessential winter brew filtered through the Cascade curtain of SoCal, beer novice Shawn is not sure what to expect. I try to orient him with the telling question, “Are you ready to get crocked?”

Interbeer Interlude: MicroBrewed. “Hessen Haus.” The massive Des Moines pubcrawl continues for Tee and the boys (”the boys” being Paul and Andrew), as our intrepid quaffers arrive at Hessen Haus, “central Iowa’s only authentic German bier hall.” Since when did Des Moines get so freeking multicultural?

Beer #2: Our internal fireplaces well stoked, Shawn and I now take the potentially ill-advised step of reaching for something stronger, in this case Stone’s Double Bastard Ale. Yeah, what the hell were we thinking?
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Beer Geek Moment: Cellaring Beer. Big beers have potentially big life spans. What is the point of hanging on to a brew for a year or more? This Moment delves into the very heart of this question. Only extraordinarily patient beer geeks need apply.

Postbeer Postscript: Shawn and I experience some actual “winter” as we’re kicked outside to relate the scores on these beers. Between chattering teeth, we attempt to coherently articulate our opinions. Yeah, good luck on that! Which beer claims the top of the bone-warming crop? Tune in and find out!

Choose from a mind-boggling array of official SoB products in a variety of designs, some of which are actually related to beer drinking. Make up for that botched Xmas gift with something Beer Guy, or just let your beer geek flag fly in uber-cool SoB duds. Thomas, we’ve even got something for your hop-headed dog!

Find splendiferous beer-related consumption here, or click on the link over there to the right.

And a huge “thanks!” to Tom the Beer Guy’s Brother for setting this whole thing up!

AleSmith’s Old Numbskull [alternatives: Dogfish Head's Olde School Barleywine, Rogue's Old Crustacean Barleywine, Hair of the Dog's Fred]

and

Stone’s Double Bastard Ale [alternatives: Dogfish Head's Immort Ale, The Lost Abbey's Old Viscosity]

It’s not entirely clear what impact the festive holiday season will have on the release date for this show…I’m guessing it’ll come out sometime shortly after the first of the new year, but I might be able to eek it out a little before that. In any case, have a good one (holiday season, that is)!

Prebeer Preamble: One of the most potent symbols of the joyous generosity that marks the December holiday season is a certain St. Nicholas (a.ka. Santa Claus, a.k.a Father Christmas, a.k.a. Kris Kringle, etc.). Today we enjoy a couple of beers that pay homage to that jolly old elf, and see if the north pole’s #1 citizen can inspire a good brew.

Beer #1: With Thanksgiving turkey still settling in our tummies, I’m joined by dinner guests Evo Terra, Sheila Unwin, and Jack Mangan for some Santa’s Private Reserve Ale from Rogue Brewery. Evo likes it real bitter, Jack’s more of a hefeweizen guy, and Sheila can go either way. Whose trigger does this hopped-up amber ale trip? Surely someone’s, right?

Interbeer Interlude: Liquid Literature “Beer and Food: An American History by Bob Skilnik”. In a new recurring interbeer segment, Anna Creech, the Eclectic Librarian, gives us a look into the world of words about beer. Today she reviews a book that might just be on the wish list of your literary beer loving friends!

Beer #2: To cap our evening off, we next reach for Samichlaus Bier from Schloss Eggenberg Brewery*. This one’s a modern-day beer legend, one of the first widely available beers to crack the 10% ABV mark. Brewed annually on St. Nicholas’ Day (December 6th), and aged for almost a year, it’s designed to be a smooth-drinking warmer. So is it warmly received by my guests?

Beer Geek Moment: Juleglugg. Blasphemous as it may sound, beer is not the only beverage out there that people turn to for holiday cheer. Today’s Moment looks at a classic winter warmer from Scandinavia, and includes the traditional recipe enjoyed annually at the Speaking of Beer household. Skol!

Postbeer Postscript: ‘Tis the season for generosity, but do these two Santa-inspired brews feel the love? Who hands out gifts and who’s slinging stocking coal? Tune in and find out!

*Which is in Austria, not Germany as stated on the show. Thanks, Thomas for the correction.

Thanks to the good folks at The Beer Report, Should I Drink That?, Pacific Brew News, The Good Beer Show, Craft Beer Radio, Dude Night, Big Foamy Head, and Brain Gravy for including me in this project. Good times…

Happy Holidays everyone!

(And in case you’re wondering, yeah, the Crunchberry beer did kinda suck…)

Prebeer Preamble: We all have at least one thing we’re completely gaga over: Harry Potter, the New England Patriots, or Battlestar Galactica, for example. For some folks there’s a particular beer that makes them go all mushy inside, and today’s show is deidcated to them. I’m joined by two hardcore fans of specific beers, and grill them as to why they like their favorite brews so darn much.

Beer #1: My sister Nancee is a lover of Spaten Optimator, a dopplebock from Germany. She even went so far as to persuade her local supplier to get it on a regular basis in convenient six-packs so she could buy it by the case. How did this particular beer come to reign “supreme” in Nancee’s personal Beerniverse? Tune in and find out!

Interbeer Interlude; Microbrewed “El Bait Shop, Round 2″ Tee Morris, sans compadre Phil Rossi but joined by Paul and Andrew, wades into the second round of brews at Des Moines, Iowa’s own multi-tap Mexican cantina. Who’d a thunk such a cool place would spring up in Des Moines? I mean, it’s Des Moines for chrissakes!

Beer #2: Podcaster, author, musician, and Joe Murphy Memorial Fund CFO Jack Mangan loses his deadpan demeanor when the topic is Hacker-Pschorr Weisse, his personal favorite beer. This hefeweizen (once again, coincidentally, from Germany) makes him all tingly inside. Take a listen and find out what he thinks of my description of this one (hint: “not much”).

Sudsy Song Segment: Too Much Joy “King of Beers” I am personally a huge fan of this now-defunct power-pop band from the 1990’s. This song is pretty much the thing that sealed the deal. Sample lyric: “Gonna feel like hell tomorrow/so I won’t go to sleep tonight/na na na na na na sorrow/everything’s gonna be alright.” I love these guys…

Postbeer Postscript: With all of the gushing on this show, it’s probably no surprise that the scores run on the high side. Am I swept up in beer-love, or do I play party-pooping foil to my zealous co-drinkers? Take a listen and see!

For show 42 please acquire:

Santa’s Private Reserve Ale: [alternative: Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale]

and

Samichlaus Bier [alternatives: a toughie...technically it's a doppelbock, but at 14 % ABV find the strongest doppelbock you can get!]

Sorry again for the herky-jerky release schedule. Then again, maybe I should relax and have a beer…

Thanks for pointing me to this, Dub!

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….