BEER MAKES HEADLINES

BEER MAKES HEADLINES

Greetings,

This week beer has made the headlines of news media in the United States and Canada.

The folks in South Carolina had some beer celebrating…

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9GUE0E01.htm

The folks in Chicago made a statement…

http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/national/bitter-lebron-beer-on-tap-in-cleveland-ews-shns-wfts

and the Canadians know basketball or beer…

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jIz2dTomuK89FAT4u6Bb9KVGUvjA


Cheers!

Peter

Fourth of July Beer... Conclusion

Greetings,

The Fourth of July Beer of 2010 was… Pabst Blue Ribbon in 12 oz. cans, on ice.

Here is how the decision was made.

As I was standing in front of an open cold box that stretched half a city block long, stacked with cases of canned beer, my mind returned to its "Happy Place"...

For some reason, this time it went to the slate and field-stone front porch of the house where I spent my teen-age years. Sheltered by three two story tall cedar trees, it was a refreshing refuge from the slate covered two-story, Tudor-style, non-air-conditioned dwelling that it was attached too. For additional comfort a Pawleys Island rope hammock was strung on a green aluminum frame. (Should the folks be out of town and a cooler filled with equal parts canned Pabst Blue Ribbon beer and ice cubes in easy reach of my hammock haven, there was no better place on earth.) It was a happy place…

That is where my mind landed when a “happy place” was needed at 1400 on 4 July 2010, standing in front of more brands of beer than I could count. I actually made an effort to do that but gave up half way down the length of the cold box. Instead, I focused in on the “suitcase” of the familiar Pabst Blue Ribbon logo and told my beer-brain to go on vacation.

Later, less than fifteen minutes later, handing one to the cook and then taking the first sip from the ice cold can in my own hands, I knew I had made the perfect choice of beer.

True genius!

Cheers!

Fourth of July Beer (3)

Greetings,

One of the advantages of living here in Brooklyn, NY is the access to some of the best beer brewed in the United States and Canada.

I am not saying that Brooklyn Brewery is the best.

The day I find the best of anything will be the saddest day in my life. The search will be over and the thrill of the hunt crushed in the grist mill of reality. However, the reality of the best ever being found is so remote that my fears are left in the trouble basket near the door.

That noted, my point is more to the selection of bars, taverns, bodegas, cafes, and other food and beverage retailers that cater to established distinct neighborhoods that reflect as many diverse cultures as there are in the world.

It is said that there are actually more languages spoken in Brooklyn than in the rest of the world because in a few communities there are folks old enough to have spoken languages that are no longer spoken in their native land.

Those cultures that treasure beer as essential to the good life are represented in the mélange that is Brooklyn, NY. Thus the lagers of Latin and Central America, Western and Southern Africa, and the Caribbean are readily available. The golden richer pilsner-style lagers of Germany and the modern nations of the old Bohemian principalities can be found as easily as the selections offered by the Big Three brewers. There is also a real market for United States “craft” beers that might be the largest in North America.

(So, why are there only one brewpub and three “craft” breweries in all of New York City?)

Knowing all of this I react as anyone in my position would do. Since the cook-out is Sunday and today is Friday I will make a note to “Get beer for cook-out from the wholesaler on Court Street tomorrow.”

And now I will enjoy the rest of a truly beautiful morning…

Stay tuned for more in the search for the ideal beer for a summer cook-out…

Fourth of July Beer ( 2 )

Greetings,

Now that I know the venue (outdoor cook-out in a country environment with a swimming pool), the menu (grilled chopped meat, sausages of beef and pork, chicken parts and the salads and condiments traditional to a cook out), and need (a case of 12 oz. canned beer), all that is left to do is choose a retailer, purchase it and get it to the event.

Did you ever think that choosing a case of beer was so involved?

The parameters to the choice of retailer are accessibility, choices of products and a significant range of price points available. In other words… how much trouble to go get, select and pay for the beer? Here in Brooklyn, within ten city blocks, there are two dozen small groceries, three beverage distributors, and three specialty shops that stock beer in cans.

Most of the small groceries are owned by first or second generation immigrants and are supplied by one or two beverage wholesalers. This limits the selection to products that are fast movers because of major media advertising and promotion. However, in cases of one reason or another, a real beer bargain can be had. A quick scan of a dozen cold boxes or so might result in finding a six of a canned Colorado brew.

For the present that will remain a possibility in my decision-making process. A “sure kill” is what I am looking for. I seek a nearby retailer with a huge selection and a range of prices from a few dollars for a “suitcase” to a four-pack that costs $100.00(US) a “case” of four.

There is one particular retailer that probably fits that description exactly.

Stay tuned, it’s a beauty of a day so I’m on our way…

Fourth of July Beer

Greetings,

The Fourth of July holiday falls on Sunday this year and that will insure, weather willing, outdoor festivities.

With the exception of those who are teetotalers this means that beer will probably be the beverage of choice. How this choice is made can, pun intended, be as simple as price to volume ratio. The greater quantity for the least cost formula can still present a plethora of choices. This where brand loyalty steps in.

Should the flavor of the chosen brew come into the formula? No.

Beer in a can, served al fresco, should be iced and the ice cold brew will have little flavor… simply refreshing.

This means choosing either a selection of brews or a single selection and plenty of it.

Being an All American boy, I have plans to provide the beer for a family cook out.

There will be at least two persons who enjoy multiple servings. One or two others are one-can consumers. Of course, left-over is not a bad thing and should be included in determining the amount of brew to acquire.

My calculation is based on the formula of one 12 oz. can of beer consumed every forty five minutes over three hours. For the above event that comes to two six packs for consumption and two more for unexpected guests and “left-over”. Total is one case of canned beer.

The weather should be close to 90F, 60% humidity, a 5 mph intermittent breeze and crystal clear blue skies. A swimming pool will be involved.

The menu will be grilled chopped meat, sausages of beef and pork, chicken parts and the salads and condiments traditional to a cook out.

What beer will I be bringing? Stay tuned…

A taste of... Dundee Summer Wheat Beer

Genesee Brewing Co./ High Falls Brewing Co.
445 Saint Paul St.
Rochester, New York, 14605
United States
(585) 546-1030

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of Dundee Summer Wheat Beer was sent to me by the folks at Genesee Brewing Co.. (There is a dating code on the neck of the bottle 1090 09:13 4E.)

The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew.
I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of as creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: The traditional cloudy, murky bright golden brew is very effervescent and builds a fine head of tightly knit white bubbles. The Belgian lace is also impressive.

Aroma: First impressions are of raisins and sugar. The second impression brought out more of the same nuances. The third nose dive revealed a floral hop flower aroma that hid shyly behind the sugar aroma.

Flavor: After that first refreshing sensation, there is a sharp tang that grows from behind a sweet sugar moment. The second sip finds more of the metallic tang in the forefront. The third swallow begins to build some grain impressions that soften the sharp earlier impressions.

Mouth feel: There is some body to this brew, but it is not over built.

Finish: The grain flavors keep the more metallic flavors in check as they mosey down the road into the sunset.

Comments: You may check earlier posts regarding American Wheat beer style parameters. This is a rather refreshing brew that I wish I had tasted when it was a bit more chilled. They call it a beer so I should have left it on the cooler side before tasting it.

When savored in a chilled condition I would find this a great brew to enjoy with an all beef grilled frankfurter on a top slit bun with only a trace of honey mustard.

The Brewery: http://www.geneseebeer.com/Welcome.aspx

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: N/A

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/dundee-summer-wheat/58654/

A taste of… Dundee Pale Bock Lager

Genesee Brewing Co./ High Falls Brewing Co.

445 Saint Paul St.
Rochester, New York, 14605
United States
(585) 546-1030

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of Dundee Pale Bock Lager was sent to me by the folks at Genesee Brewing Co. not only for inclusion in these tasting notes, but as part of a “virtual “beer tasting… more on that later. (There is a dating code on the neck of the bottle 0550 R 15:43 4W.)

The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew.

I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of as creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: A golden honey colored brew is carbonated with fine bubbles that form a respectable rather rocky light tan head of medium to large bubbles.

Aroma: The first sensation is lightly roasted grains and an almost maple syrup aroma. The second nose dive revealed a slight butterscotch accent and the third aromatic adventure left the impression of a distant whiff of lemon.

Flavor: After that first refreshing sensation, a sweet flavor ushers in a fairly aggressive hop tang. The second impression adds more to the malt flavors (sweet) but ends with the more dry sensation of the hop tang. The third swallow brought the sweet grain flavors back with that maple syrup accent as counterpoint.

Mouth feel: There is a lush feel to this brew.

Finish: The curtain call leaves the spotlight on the grain while the tang of the hops holds the bouquet.

Comments: I assumed that a “bock lager” would be a caramel colored highly hopped brew. This is more of a Dortmund style brew, and there is not a thing wrong with that as there is a ram on the label.

The rich flavor and body to this one would be my suggestion as a beverage of choice to go with the six-count shrimp you are going to grill over the charcoal this week-end.

Now about that “virtual tasting”… http://www.beerbasics.com/Brewpubs Plus/cybertasting 001.htm


The Brewery: http://www.geneseebeer.com/Welcome.aspx

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/302/21861

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/dundee-pale-bock-lager/96057/