Speaking of Beer

Courtesy of FunnyOrDie.com:

Thanks for pointing me to this, Dub!

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….

 

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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).

Prebeer Preamble: Apologies for the Lucas-like complexity of the show title, but whenever legendary hophead, author, and internet recanteur Evo Terra joins me for a beer, I dust off the bombast. Any opportunity to revel in the resiny goodness that is hops with another Humulus Lupulus fanboy is an opportunity for excess, as far as I’m concerned. Today Evo and I scale the twin peaks of IBU and ABV, engaging in some good old-fashioned “drinkin’ a coupla beers” conversation along the way.

Beer #1: Evo’s (relatively) recent trip to Vancouver, BC yielded our first beer of the day, Granville Island Whitecaps IPA. Canada isn’t exactly known as a hophead Mecca, but Evo really enjoyed this one from the tap. How does it fare when poured from a bottle?

Interbeer Interlude: Microbrewed. “El Bait Shop.” Straying from his usual East Coast haunts in a never-ending quest for the perfect pub experience, Tee Morris winds up in, of all places, Des Moines, Iowa. Flanked by co-drinkers Paul and Andrew, as well as a stray local or two, Tee dives into the Midwest mega-tap experience. What are they drinking and how does it go down? Tune in and find out! (Part 1 of 4)

Beer #2: Evo and I now turn to Breckenridge Brewing’s Small Batch 471 Double IPA. This one is touted as being “double hopped,” and it’s definitely cranked up on the EtOH. But with alcohol comes malt and with malt comes balance. Could it be that “double” just isn’t enough?

Beer Geek Moment: “Hop Horticulture” Ever had the hankerin’ to grow your own hops? Turns out it’s not that tough, especially if you’re into “projects” and have even a faintly green thumb. Take a listen and find out how it’s done!

Postbeer Postscript: We score up these spicy brews and discuss the Theory of Hop Relativity (at least, that’s what I’m calling it now…). Which beer might just have Evo Twittering away? Tune in and find out!

 

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The last couple of shows have had some widely-available beers, and I’ve heard several fun drink-along stories about them (granted, mostly from members of my own family, but still…). Thus it is with a heavy heart that I unveil next week’s show beers, two brews you almost aussuredly won’t be able to find:

Granville Island Brewing’s Whitecaps IPA [alternatives: Victory Hop Devil Ale, Redhook's Longhammer IPA, Flying Dog's Snake Dog IPA]

and

Breckenridge Brewing’s 471 Series Double-Hopped Double IPA [alternatives: Bell's HopSlam, Bear Republic's Racer X, Three's Floyd's Dreadnaught IPA]

Please do avail yourself of one of the alternabeers, or any combo of American IPA and double IPA you can find. Even without the exact brews, there’s still good listening afoot. Let’s just say my returning co-drinker’s identity should be obvious from the emphasis on Humulus Lupulus…

Prebeer Preamble: Over much of the Northern Hemisphere, summer has given way to autumn. A whole new wave of fall seasonal beers are turning up on store shelves and taps, and a growing number of them involve that apotheosis of autumnal squash, the pumpkin. Today I and my Draco Vista Review Krew (Michael R.Mennenga, Doug Kress, Tim Adamec, and Brian Brown) take a look at this phenomenon, and try to wrap our heads around the benefits (or lack thereof) of adding vegetables to your beer.

Beer #1: A sign of pumpkin beer’s ascendency is Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale, from the fine folks at Blue Moon (a.k.a. Molson-Coors). Macro-pumkin marketed like a micro, with “all natural” pumpkin flavor. Kinda gets you drooling, doesn’t it? Warning: the word “fizzy” is used in describing this one…

Interbeer Interlude: Beer As Folk. “Thom Tash from Kona Brewing Co.” Kona’s seasonal Pipeline Porter is very popular in Hawaii, on the mainland and beyond. Pubcaster and Heartland Brews contributor Phil Clark from The Brit and Yankee talks with the Kona Brewmaster about this and other brews produced with local ingredients in the 50th State.

Beer #2: A product of one of America’s oldest brewpubs, Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale can safely be called the progenitor of pumpkin beer. Does it’s “classic” status lead to a satisfying drinking experience, or should pumpkins remain the stuff of pies and jack-o-lanterns and stay out of beer all together?

Beer Geek Moment: “Seasonals” Pumpkin beer is but one example of “seasonal” beer, brews that only turn up at certain times of the year and reflect the vibe of the time. Take a whirlwind tour through the calendar by way of a pint glass in this little Moment.

Postbeer Postscript: It turns out where the tasters stand on pumpkin pie has a lot to do with how they score these beers. Who likes lots of spice, and who wants to actually taste the pumpkin? Tune in and see!

 

 Show 38: It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Beer Guy! [36:43m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1929)

As you enjoy the ever-crispening breezes and golden splendor of leaves turning into yard work that come with fall (at least, if you live in certain parts of the northern hemisphere), find these two beers:

Blue Moon Harvest Moon Ale [alternatives: Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale, Saranac Pumpkin Ale]

and

Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale [alternatives: Dogfish Head Punkin' Ale, Schlafly Pumpkin Ale]

Now get out there and rake!