[ 2 Comments ] Posted on 06.27.09 under News
Bison Brewing is an organic brewery out of Berkley CA.
In this modern world of extreme beer, the very definition of extreme tends to move around a bit. At first, it was generally meant as high alcohol or high IBU or both. Think “Triple IPA”. It evolved to refer to style combinations. I’m thinking of “Black IPA” – the strange combo of stout and IPA, probably hyped up in the ABV and IBU depts.
It continues to evolve and mature, as any great beer could do. Today when we think about extreme beer, it could be extreme in a different direction. Like a 3% ABV IPA-ish beer, or culinary-inspired brews.
Bison has released a very intriguing summer seasonal brew. It’s a Honey Basil Ale. My favorite part of the press release:
“Like my other specialty brews, this year’s Honey Basil Ale uses specialty ingredients judiciously – we don’t hit you over the head with the ingredients, but rather hint at it,” says Brewmaster Daniel Del Grande. “All our beers focus on drinkability and balance, so after finishing the bottle I leave you wanting another! Some beers out there fatigue my palate; I like to enjoy a couple beers with food and friends.”
Sounds nice. I, too, enjoy a couple of beers from time to time. If I can get my hands on this one, I’ll have to let you all know how it fares against this enticing testimonial from the Brewmaster.
[ 3 Comments ] Posted on 06.26.09 under Brewing, Fermentation Friday
Today is Fermentation Friday! Brew Dudes are hosting!!
Today’s topic is “how do you beat the heat brewing in summer months”
This is a little easy for me. Temperature control! Take any full size fridge with a temperature controller, with a temperature sensing probe taped to the side of the fermenter, and you’ve got instant basement anywhere. Very helpful for basement-free folks like myself.
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[ No Comments ] Posted on 06.24.09 under Uncategorized
When Sierra Nevada’s IPA, Torpedo, first came out a few months back, I had to look around a little to find it in stock.
I was able to grab some here and there, and figured that with the passage of time, its popularity would wane, and its availability would wax.
Apparently, I was wrong. Now not only is it not in stock at any beer store I try, there isn’t even an empty spot designated for it anywhere. I guess I wasn’t the only one who found it quite popular.
Here’s looking forward to the day when it’s available again here on the East Coast. In the mean time, I’ll go for Ballast Point Big Eye IPA, which is cast from the same mold. But since nobody around here knows who Ballast Point is, it’s always in stock at the right shops.
[ 1 Comment ] Posted on 06.21.09 under Uncategorized
At my parents’ house today for Father’s Day, I neglected to bring any beer with me. I had to raid the fridge for a portion of my daily ration of ethanol. There was a 2009 Bigfoot in there – nice. But then I found a real gem. A 2007 Busch Light. Born on or best by July 2007 (not sure of the meaning of the stamp on the bottom of the can).
I knew there was a chance the beer would be totally ruined, but I figured I wouldn’t even be able to tell if it was. And besides, the can should enhance its shelf life. So I braved it. I mean, what was I supposed to do, drink water?
Although it’s been a while since I had a fresh Busch Light can, I believe that this vintage sample was roughly in the same condition as it would have been fresh. No nasty chunks of anything, unlike the two-year-old Sam Adams Summer Ale I scrounged in the same fridge this winter. I have to give Kudos to A-B for making a very stable product.
[ No Comments ] Posted on 06.15.09 under Uncategorized
I brewed two beers yesterday: an Amber at 1.050 and an IIIPA at 1.118. To my shock, the Amber is bubbling like it’s going to pop the airlock while the IIIPA lazily pushes bubbles out the blowoff tube… May be time to toss in that EC-1118 to the monster already?
[ No Comments ] Posted on 06.14.09 under Brewing, Hops
For Christmas, I got a vacuum sealer. I have been wanting this for brewing purposes. It seems everything has a brewing purpose in some way or another.
A while back I got a few pounds of various hops from various sources. I was excited to have such a large amount of hops in one simple package so I could use them very easily.
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[ No Comments ] Posted on 06.05.09 under Tasting
Every first and third Friday, Thomas Hooker Brewery in Bloomfield, CT has sort of an open house tasting event from 5-8PM. It’s $10 and you get a Hooker pint glass, all the beer you can drink, $2 slices of New York style pizza, and you get to be around a 50BBL brewhouse. Read the rest of this entry…
[ 2 Comments ] Posted on 06.01.09 under Brewing, Fermentation Friday
It’s been a few months since I participated in Fermentation Friday. Ted is hosting. I saw the topic come over the wire last week: Brew Day Joy and Stress. What part of your brew day brings you the most JOY? What part particularly brings out a good deal of STRESS? Though it’s a little late, here’s my hat in the ring.
Brewing is a fine hobby. It can be done simply or with great attention to complex detail. And best of all, when you’re done, you get beer! As with any endeavor, there are moments of deep joy while brewing, and there’s opportunity for worry and stress as you work to master your crafty hobby. Read the rest of this entry…
[ 1 Comment ] Posted on 05.22.09 under Uncategorized
I just got home from volunteering at Springfest at the Beach 2009. What a blast! I got behind a nice quiet table in the back, serving the Wolaver lineup: IPA, Brown, Pale Ale, and Oatmeal Stout.
The Oatmeal Stout is probably my favorite regular strength stout around, and they make a damn fine IPA, so I jumped on the opportunity to serve the table.
Every time someone came around with the old “I don’t like dark beer” or “what’s your lightest beer” game, I immediately replied “do you like coffee”. About 90% of the time, the person eagerly admitted a love of coffee. At which point I coaxed that the stout was very coffee-like. About 90% of the people that “don’t like dark beer” that tried the stout liked the stout. People came to the table to seek out the stout. I generated a buzz about the stout.
Just my little contribution to spreading the word on beer.
Wolaver’s Oatmeal Stout is part of the Wolaver’s brand, a USDA certified organic product line from Otter Creek in Middlebury, VT. It is rich and smooth and full-bodied, without all the extra booze of an Imperial Stout. Really an incredible brew. If you can find it, try it!
[ No Comments ] Posted on 05.18.09 under Hops, IPA, Tasting
I was totally expecting to be disappointed. I mean, when I first read about Widmer’s Drifter Pale Ale, it sounded great. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. But then I came to believe it sounded too god to be true. I mean, a lot of people claim great hop flavor and aroma, but it’s such a subjective thing. Every hop is different and “a lot” can vary from palate to palate.
I am happy to say that Drifter is a great beer. It really is a highly hop flavored and scented beer, with really hardly any bitterness there. Frankly, for my tastes, I’d prefer a bit more bitterness, but the flavor is great.
It has that nice sweaty citrus hop scent to it, with the citrus kick to go along with it in the flavor department. The carbonation is a little light, but it’s not the end of the world.
In the end, Drifter is a nice readily available beer that feeds the hop flavor demon without a boatload of alcohol (only 5.7% by volume) and without tongue-lashing bitterness. A good one to keep around and use as a “normal beer” in between 90 minute IPAs and oak-aged Insanities. At the same time, you might be able to lure Joe Sam Adams into a glass of Drifter for a taste of some incredible American hop flavor.
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