Archive for December, 2009

3 Beers to Drink on New Year’s Eve Instead of Champagne

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

With New Year’s eve just around the corner many people are stocking up on champagne and sparkling cider to help ring in the new year. While these beverages can be a great way to celebrate, we think that beer can do just as well, if not better then bubbly. Here are three styles of beers that make wonderful substitutes for champagne on New Year’s Eve.

Biere de champagne- This is an obvious choice for a champagne replacement considering champagne is right in the name. That’s not the only similarity this beer style has with champagne though. As we explained when we profiled this style, biere de champagne goes through the Méthode Champenoise, an traditional process of refermentation which gives champagne many of it’s unique qualities. Flavor wise these beers are very dry, lightly sweet and extremely bubbly, much like actual champagne. Because of the complicated Méthode Champenoise and aging process this beer is usually quite expensive but if you can afford it, Deus is the version to try.

Tripel- This Belgian style originally brewed by Trappist monks is also a great for any celebration. The flavor is light but very malty, with a golden color and clear appearance. With an alcohol percentage frequently over 9% this beer is sure to get any party started, New Year’s or otherwise. Because it’s brewed with Belgian candy sugar, this style tends to be fairly sweet, with none of the dryness associated with biere de champagne. Chimay White is by far the most famous example of this style. Victory’s Golden Monkey is a great American craft beer version.

Wheat Wine- This style is relatively young, but has been gaining popularity among American craft brewers over the last decade. It is a high alcohol wheat beer that really packs a punch. Sometimes known as ‘double wheat’ or ‘imperial wheat,’ this is one brew that’ll keep you warm on a new year’s night. The flavor of this style is quite unique, blending the delicate fruit and cloves of traditional wheat beers like hefeweizens with the warm flavors of alcohol. All in all it’s a wonderful new style that everyone should try when they get the chance. Smuttynose makes a great wheat wine. Pilgrim’s Dole from New Holland is also worth a try if you can find it.

What do you plan on drinking New Year’s Eve? Let us know in the comments or by tweeting your beer next time you enjoy it and adding the #mybeer hashtag

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10 Perfect Beers For The Holidays

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

With Christmas coming up on Friday, now is the time to get into the holiday spirit. We here at Beeriety think enjoying the right beer with loved ones can be a great way to make the most of these festive times. We previously showed you how to pair the right beer with Christmas dinner, now we’re sharing 10 of our favorite beers specifically made for the holidays:

Yule Tide – This holiday tripel from Clipper City has a touch of nutmeg in it for a few festive flavors.

Affligem Noel – This is a classic example of the “Noel beer” mini-style made by many Belgian brewers. It’s medium in body with sweet, malty flavors and a touch of winter spices like nutmeg and cinnamon.

Delirium Tremens Noel – Another great version of “Noel beer.” It’s similar to Affligem’s version but has a brighter, less sweet taste thanks to Delierum’s house blend of yeast.

Bell’s Christmas Ale – This nutmeg and cinnamon brew is great treat at the end of the year from one of Michigan’s best brewers.

Anchor Christmas – Anchor is the first craft brewer in America, so it’s fitting that they are also one of the first American brewers to produce a yearly Christmas beer. These are rich and nutty but much lighter than the Belgian Noel beers.

Santa’s Private Reserve – From Rogue Brewing in Oregon, leave this for Santa instead of Eggnog.

Sam Adams Old Fezziwig – This winter ale is named after a jolly character from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. It has been known to make yours truly a bit jolly from time to time too.

Sam Adams Holiday Porter – Another great winter beer from Sam Adams. Like Old Fezziwig, it’s only available in their holiday mix pack, which is a must buy during the holiday season.

He’brew Messiah – If Christmas isn’t your thing, try this delicious kosher beer from some great New York City brewers.

Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout – This mighty stout is as big and powerful as the infamous indomitable snowman it’s named after.

Sam Smith Winter Welcome- Like Anchor Christmas ale, this one has been around awhile and is really worth seeking out for any serious beer lover. It’s lighter in body than most others on this list but just as sweet. In many ways, it reminds me of a barleywine with low hops – just a big, malty delight.

Merry Christmas!

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Pairing Beer with Christmas Dinner

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

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For many, Christmas dinner is one of most anticipated meals of the year. Full of good food and good company, this meal can be the highlight of the winter. Although wine is the beverage most often served with this meal, beer pairs well with many of the most common items on a Christmas menu.

When enjoying beer with a meal, there are some basic guidelines you should keep in mind. First, try and match the intensity of flavors. A big bold beer like an IPA or a barleywine will overshadow light flavors. Instead, try to keep your beers roughly as flavorful as the food you’re enjoying. It’s also a good idea to progress toward heavier, more intense beers as the meal progresses and not the other way around. A more delicate beer like a wit bier could seem off if you have it following an intense brew like a stout. The different food courses work the same way; this is why you begin a meal with lighter fare like salad and finish it with rich desserts like chocolate. For a more detailed primer on the art of pairing food and beer, take a look at our pairing guide.

For the Whole Meal - Biere de Garde – This rare French style is smooth and slightly buttery. It’s seen a recent resurgence from American craft brewers like The Lost Abbey and Jolly Pumpkin with their Avant Garde and Oro De Calabaza beers. 3 Monts from Brasserie De Saint-Sylvestre is the classic French version.

Poultry – Oktoberfest (Paulaner), Biere de Garde (3 Monts), Bock (Anchor Bock).

Red meat – ESB/English Bitter (Fullers).

Pork – Belgian Wit (Hoegaarden), Saison (Foret).

Sweet potato – Brown Ale (Newcastle), Pumpkin Beer (Dogfish Head Punkin).

Potatoes – Belgian Tripel (Chimay), Cream Ale (Sam Adams).

Stuffing – Rye Ale (Founder’s Red Rye).

Pie – Dunkelweiss (Weihenstephaner Dunkel), Dopplebock (Ayinger), Cream Ale (Sam Adams).

Green beans/veggies – Pale Ale (Sam Smith).

Cranberry sauce – Lambic (Lindemans Framboise).

Dessert – Christmas beers (Anchor Christmas, Affligem Noel) – We’ll have more on this style Monday.

What are your favorite beers to pair with food? Let us know in the comments or by tweeting your beer next time you enjoy it and adding the #mybeer hashtag.

Cheers and Merry Christmas!

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Wassail: A Traditional Holiday Beer Punch

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

Wassail
Wassail is a traditional punch made of beer, fruit and spices, similar to hot mulled apple cider. It’s usually served at Christmas time and was originally given to carolers (wassailers) for their songs and blessings. It’s great way to warm yourself up on a cold Christmas night or any time you’re a bit chilly.

So many recipes for wassail have come along since the Middle Ages that the beverage is now more of a loose genre than a strict recipe. You can make wassail out of whatever spices, booze and fruit you want, but there are some common elements in most recipes. Baked apples are the most prominent ingredient, followed by cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Beer is our preferred alcohol, but you can use anything including wine or hard cider.

Here’s a recipe adapted from Alton Brown‘s suggestions:

Ingredients:

  • 6 small Fuji apples, cored
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 100 ounces ale (about 8 12-oz bottles)
  • 10 whole cloves
  • 1  teaspoon Allspice
  • 1 cinnamon stick, 2-inches long
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Put the apples into an  glass baking dish. Drizzle the brown sugar onto each apple, dividing the sugar evenly among them. Pour the water into the bottom of the dish and bake until tender – about 45 minutes.

3. Pour the ale into a large slow cooker or large pot. Mix in the cloves, allspice, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. Set the slow cooker to medium heat or, if using a pot, set the stove to medium to low heat. Bring the mixture to at least 130 degrees F, but do not boil. Once brought to temperature, you may strain the wassail through a sieve to remove the excess spices and make it easier to drink.

4. Add the apples and the liquid from the baking dish to the wassail and stir to combine. Ladle into cups and serve.

What type of beer to use, like most of the ingredients in wassail, is really up to you. If you want to follow tradition, any English ale, such as a porter or brown ale would suit the recipe well. Alternatively, a nice Belgian dubbel or any other malty style would do. Because hops tend to increase in bitterness when cooked, hoppy beers such as IPAs are probably not the best choice. Then again, there’s no wrong way to make wassail.

Happy Holidays and Happy Wassailing!

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Beeriety’s Holiday Gift Guide

Friday, December 11th, 2009

giftguide

If you’ve been wondering what to get this holiday season for the beer lovers you know, look no further than our holiday gift guide.

Beer of the Month Club - Once a month, the Beer of the Month club will ship a 12-pack of different hand-selected American and international craft beers right to your door step. This is a great way to check out beers not normally disturbed in your area. A member of the Beeriety Team has really enjoyed her subscription, and we’re sure you will too. There are several different price plans available to accommodate a range of budgets. Find out more info at www.beermonthclub.com

Books – There are all sorts of really amazing books out there on all subjects beer; everything from the business of brewing to the history of beer has a book or two devoted to it. Most are available wherever books are sold, but BeerBooks.com is probably the one stop shop for books on beer. Some quick recommendations-

Greatness

Posters – The designs used on beer bottles and advertisements before Prohibition were simply amazing. Check out Beerbooks.com’s poster and sign section for a great collection of antique prints that will look great on any wall.

Glassware – As we’ve discussed, the proper glassware is essential for getting the most out of your beer. With so many varieties of glassware there is a lot to choose from. Check out PubGlasses.com for all your glassware needs.

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Homebrewing kits – As we explained recently, if you love beer there are lot of great reasons why you should make beer in your kitchen. The first step towards homebrew heaven is getting the necessary equipment. Head to your local home brew supply store or homebrewing.org to order all you’ll need.

Videos - If you haven’t seen it, the 2008 documentary Beer Wars is a must see for any lover beer. It’s a fascinating look at the American brewing industry. Pick up a copy at beerwarsmovie.com. Basic Brewing is a fantastic video podcast about beer and homebrewing by two guys in Northwest Arkansas. If you’re interested in learning to brew but want more than a book to guide you, pick up one of their how-to videos.

Ommegang gift pack

Gift Packs - Many breweries will put together their own holiday gift packs which combine several bottles of beer with the proper mug or glass. It’s a simple way to give a beer lover some of their favorite brews and the glassware that goes with it at the same time. Look for them at finer liquor stores in your area.

Beer dinner tickets – Many beer restaurants/bars and brewpubs host beer dinners. This usually consists of several preselected courses of food with specific beers pairings. It’s a great way to see first hand the magic of pairing beer with food. Check with your favorite local beer restaurant or brewery to see what dinners they are hosting soon.

A special beer – No beer lover will ever complain about getting the gift of beer. Why not find something special to show that you really care? Many breweries produce wonderful special brews that make great gifts. Bottles of Thomas Hardy Ale can be found on ebay from as far back as the 1960’s. Fullers produces a great series of vintage ales that will age for decades. Flying Dog’s Wild Dog series are true collector’s items.

These are just a few suggestions. There are plenty of amazing gifts out there for the beer lover in your life. Hit us up in the comments or on twitter to tell us what beer gifts you want this year.

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Five Alternative Winter Beers

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

winterBeers
With a powerful storm covering much of the country in snow, it’s clear that winter will soon be here. Beer can be a great way to shake off the wintertime chills, so here’s a look at a few beers beyond the typical seasonal offerings that will warm your body and wet your tongue.

Baltic porter - This powerful porter was originally produced in England and shipped to the people of Finland, Poland and other countries near the Baltic Sea to help them survive the bitter winter. The alcohol in these beers is extremely intense, usually weighing in around 7 to 10% Alc. by volume. The taste is equally mighty and quite dry, usually with notes of dark chocolate and rye. It’s one of the most intense variations of porter available. Sinebrychoff is perhaps the most popular and tradition version. Smuttynose produces a wonderful version as well.

Quadrupel - Quads have developed a reputation among beer geeks as some of the most complex and interesting beers. Whether or not you agree with this sentiment, you have to appreciate quad’s ability to combine a strong alcohol percentage (frequently over 10%) with a smoothness and rounded maltiness that Baltic and other strong ales can’t pull off. Chimay Blue is the must try in this category, followed closely by St. Bernardus 12. If you can ever get your hands on a Trappist Westvleteren 12, which is only legally available from the Belgian monastery where it is produced, consider yourself lucky. It’s one of the most sought after brews in the world. There is even a black market of sorts for this beer in America, where people will pay $25 or more for a single 12oz bottle.

Milk Stout – Lactose, the type of sugar found in milk, is not able to be fermented by brewing yeast. As a result, the lactose remains in the finished beer, giving it a pleasantly sweet and slightly creamy flavor. Additionally, lactose can help smooth out harshness or excess bitterness that can occur in some heavier beers. Overall it makes a delicious and wonderfully accessible stout that will warm you all winter long. The UK’s Mackeson is probably the best known variety. Here in America, Left Hand Brewing produces a great version.

Russian Imperial Stout – Like Baltic porter, this dark beer was originally produced in England and shipped abroad to citizens of snowier lands. While the beer is similar to Baltic porters in strength and viscosity, Russian imperial stouts tend to be much sweeter and less dry than their Baltic brethren with plenty of dark brown foam for the head. Old Rasputin from North Coast is the most popular style among American craft brewers. Stone’s version and Victory’s Storm King are also worth trying.

Old Ale - This isn’t a name for beer that’s been sitting on the shelf too long. Old ale refers to a beer style specifically designed to be aged. While many different beers can be aged well, Old ales benefit greatly from maturation time. They are  lightly carbonated and very sweet with fruity notes of raisins or figs. In many ways, the flavor of old ales resemble brandy, which also benefits from aging.  The most well known version of old ale is Thomas Hardy’s ale, which has been produced intermittently since the 1960’s. Sometimes you can find 30 or 40 year old bottles of the stuff on Ebay.

What beers do you like to drink in the winter? Let us know next time you have one by tweeting your beer and adding the ‘#mybeer’ hashtag.

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Five Steps To Proper Beer Tasting

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

To fully appreciate all a beer has to offer sometimes you need to do a little more than just drink it. Today we’re going to go over the five steps you should take to get the most out of your beer.beer_tasting_2

1. LOOK
After pouring your beer into the proper glass, observe the color and look of the beer. Hold it up to a light to get a proper read on its appearance. What colors do you notice? How well can you see through the beer? All of this doesn’t impact too much on a beer’s taste, but it does play a part in the overall experience of a beer.

2. SWIRL & SMELL
Gently swirl your beer around in the glass to agitate it and stir up some foam. Stick your nose right up to the beer and take a deep whiff. What do you smell? Is it hoppy? Sweet? What other flavors and scents are you reminded of? Although we don’t always realize it, smell plays a huge part in what we perceive as taste. Taking time to smell your beer before you drink it will ensure you’re getting as much flavor as possible when you finally taste it.

3. SIP
When you take a sip try to breathe in some air through your mouth in an almost slurping manner. Allowing the air to mix with your beer will further agitate it and ensure the flavors are at their most potent.

4. SWISH & SAVOR
Move the beer around in your mouth. How does it feel? Is it sweet and viscous or thin and watery? As with most things, chances are it’ll be some what of a mix between the two. Notice the various tastes that hit your palate- What do you notice first? What do notice after that? A good beer will not have simply one flavor, but multiple tastes and sensations that will play out in your mouth.

5. SWALLOW
Unlike wine, which can be fully taste without swallowing, beer must be gulped down to be fully appreciated. The part of the tongue best at detecting bitter flavors is at the very back. They only way to get at it is to swallow, the beer will hit the back of your tongue as it rushes down your throat.

You certainly don’t have to do all of this every time with every beer, but when you’re looking to fully appreciate and get to know a beer you might not be familiar with, following these five steps will ensure you get best possible beer experience. Next time you try it with your favorite beer let us know what your drinking by tweeting your beer and adding the ‘#mybeer’ hashtag.

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Five Reasons You Should Homebrew

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

homebrewCraft beer isn’t the only thing people are drinking more and more of in America; homebrewing is also gaining in popularity. This shouldn’t come as a surprise as craft beer and homebrewing have always been closely associated. In fact, many of America’s biggest craft brewers started out as homebrewers. With so much great beer out there, some may ask why you’d want to bother with brewing in your kitchen. Here are a few reasons why you should give homebrewing a try.

It’s cheap. After the initial cost of equipment (about $75), the ingredients for a 5 gallon batch can cost as little as 30 dollars. That’s just $1.80 per beer. While that’s certainly more than a Bud Light at home will cost you, it’s comparable to the price of higher end craft beer. What’s more, when you homebrew, you make exactly the beer you want to drink. With a little practice, you’ll soon be able to create amazing beer right in your kitchen that rivals many craft breweries.

It’s easy. The brewing process is surprisingly simple. If you can boil water, you can make beer. By far the most difficult part of making beer is cleaning the bottles to put your homebrew in. Who can’t do that?

It’s fun. Making beer can be a great way to spend time with your fellow beer lovers. Although it certainly can be done single-handedly, making beer is quicker and more fun with a friend. There is a fair amount of waiting involved; meaning there’s plenty of time to crack open a beer and enjoy it with your brewing partner.

It’s educational. When you see a brew go from raw ingredients to finished beer, you’re better able to appreciate all that goes into making beer and how each ingredient impacts the final outcome. This will help you understand what beers are your favorites and why.

It’s legal. Although home wine making was re-legalized in the US with the repeal of prohibition in 1933, beer was actually excluded from this due to a clerical error. Homebrewing wasn’t legalized until 1979. Today it’s legal to make 100 gallons of beer per person over the age of 21 per household, up to a maximum of 200 gallons per year. Most Western countries have similar policies.

So what are you waiting for? There’s not much extra equipment or ingredients to buy. You can pick up your supplies at a homebrewing supply store near you or over at Homebrewing.com.

The Beeriety crew just uncapped our very own Peanut Chocolate Stout brewed this past September. Next time you make or try a homebrew, let us know by using the ‘#mybeer‘ or ‘#homebrew‘ hashtag. We’ll be interested to see your results!

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