For Tavern & Family Redux
11 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in beer, Bud Light, porter, Uncategorized, Yuengling beer
Due to some technical glitches, mostly on my part, my original Tavern & Family post was deleted from the world. Alas, I had no back up copy, but that’s okay because it is not a chore to revisit the pleasures of Yuengling beers, now that they have returned to the state of Ohio.
Now some in the so-called craft beer world discount the contributions of America’s oldest brewery for not being an artisan startup, with its regional personality. I say its time to recognise their great contributions, and one of the best examples is Yuengling Porter, “brewed expressly for tavern & family trade” as the label from Pottsville, PA states. A wonderfully flavourful, easy drinking dark brew.
Which also reminds me of the shock I gave to a sales rep from a distribution company who asked me why Yuengling beers sell well. “Because they taste good.” Which gets to the heart of the matter. Their Yuengling Light has converted many Bud Light fans. Although, I rarely drink beer called Light, I must admit this one is worth the effort. Like all great breweries, Yuengling has its own personality. Their house yeast is prevalent in their flavour profile, whether its their Traditional Lager, or Bock, or Lord Chesterfield Ale.
The Yuengling portfolio most certainly, has improved the state of beer in Ohio. Cheers!
HOLIDAY BEER NOTES
05 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in 21st Amendment Brewery, A Christmas Carol, Affligem Noel, beer, classic porter, Fireside Chat, holiday beer, porter, spiced winter ale, Uncategorized, wassail, winter English ale, world class beers
The eve of Saint Nicholas Day is a good a day as any to raise a toast and a cup of cheer to the magical effects of human goodness: With Saint Nicholas speed as it were, the patron saint of brewers.
I find it difficult to bah humbug those who think of cellaring holiday beers. For myself, nothing is quite so great as a freshly completed limited edition, so I do not consider ‘putting down’ (sounds like organized crime lingo) a few special edition bottles for some time later. I’ve always had the suspicion that people who obsess about ‘vertical tastings’, have a secret desire to be wine collectors. But what I am concerned with here is beer, and when it comes to holiday beer, it is most certainly, time to drink.
One of the great beauties of fresh beer is that you get to taste what the beer actually tastes like when it came out of the brewery. Affligem Noel, available fresh at the grocery store this year, is a prime example of what world class beer actually tastes like. How is it possible to describe its enormous quality and character? And without those typical musty notes attributed to cellared versions? Fresh is best. I would say for all holiday beers, whether spiced (wassail) versions or not. Sure many a winter beer will keep for quite some time, but that is most certainly not the point, because holiday beers are designed to be festive and celebratory.
Wassail recipes abound. 21st Amendment Brewery’s Fireside Chat is quite a kick both graphically and physically. A six-pack of cans containing strong spiced winter ale, with a depiction of FDR enjoying a holiday glass and a smoke. The ale itself is a powerful statement for beer in cans. Made at the old Cold Spring Brewery in Cold Spring, Minnesota. One of those “ho ho whoa!” brews available at this time of year.
“When this result was brought about, old Fezziwig, clapping his hands to stop the dance. cried out, “Well done!” and the fiddler plunged his hot face into a pot of porter, especially provided for that purpose.”
Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
The game is afoot…
The Beloved Return Of Holiday Beer
26 Oct 2010 Leave a Comment
in anheuser-busch, beer, bock, chocolate bock, christmas, holiday beer, porter, Sam Adams, samuel adams, wassail, white ale, winter classics
It’s still early. Halloween hasn’t even arrived. But the release of beers seems to go on forever. Case in point: Samuel Adams Winter Classic Collection: probably the best selection ever for this annual sampler. For The Beer Doctor, there is not a single bad selection in the lot. As someone who has seen this offering over many years, I can honestly say this. Gone from the group was the always questionable Cranberry Lambic, which over the many years it kept reappearing I never met anyone who actually said they liked it. Gone too, are the thrown-ins from years past; the Sam Adams Light, the ridiculous lemon concoction known as Coastal Wheat, which was so bad that last year I abstained from buying the collection, which was sad, because that eliminated the possibility of drinking 2 of my favorites, Holiday Porter and Old Fezziwig Ale. Thankfully this year, that has been corrected. Joining these and the Winter Lager, is the extraordinary Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock and their Belgian style White Ale, along with their flagship brand, Samuel Adams Lager.
I often forget that my enthusiasm for flavorful beer often does not translate well to those unaccustomed to it. Watching people try these beers for the first time, folks who normally drink products like Bud Light, is an exhibition of bewilderment and complete surprise, especially upon discovering, sometimes for the very first time, that real beer actually does have real flavor. For the one quarter of the world’s beer drinking population who normally drink their Bud Light, this must come as a bit of a revelation.
The inclusion of the Chocolate Bock is a holiday treat. I have not been able to get over the focus of this recipe, using a bed of Ecuadorian dark chocolate nibs to produce a smooth as silk chocolaty masterpiece.
Old Fezziwig Ale, their beloved Christmas wassail is always welcome. I remember when this first came out, over 15 years ago, when it was in a 25.4oz bottle. As welcome now as then, a delicious festive experience.
This is equally true of their London-style Holiday Porter. It is difficult to imagine winter without having this, at least once.
The White Ale, a very good take on Belgian Whit, is a more interesting version of the beer style gone mainstream by Coors Blue Moon. Very crisp and lively, and very easy to drink.
In fact, as I said, these are all good. A very auspicious sign for the coming holiday season.
EXTENDED HOLIDAYS
26 Nov 2008 1 Comment
in american ale, christmas, dunkel weizenbock, holiday beer, porter, Uncategorized, wassail
There are many different approaches to holiday beer. There is the English style old winter ale, the hoppy IPA style, the wassail style of ale, not to be confused with spiced versions of lager, such as Samuel Adams Winter Lager, a spiced dunkelweizen bock. Add to that the many variations of porter, imperial stouts which utilize cocoa and such, and you have a plethora of products to choose from.
To start off, I would like to cover some annual classics… given that distinction after many years of sampling. Snow Cap Ale from Pyramid Breweries comes to mind, its dark amber color, with its unmistakable malty nose. I could certainly make this one out in a blind taste test. The rich malty character made even more distinctive by the spicy interplay with the hops. Unmistakable.
Three Holiday offerings from breweries in Colorado, reveal how great United States brewing has become. Breckenridge Christmas Ale has always been good, but over the years this recipe has evolved to the point of greatness. A rich semi-dry palate from an invigorating malt presentation, that is complex but without being ponderous. A very festive holiday ale indeed.
Great Divide Brewing’s Hibernation Ale is a rich brown pour with a coppery undertone. A glorious take on strong winter ale, with plenty of malted strength and flavor complexity to make this a go-to choice on a cold winter night.
The same can be said of Avery’s Old Jubilation Ale, another big time malt creation, full of chocolate to mocha to vanilla notes. Another Colorado brew of marvelous depth. These beers seem to beg the question: do you want to slam some swill? or do you to drink an actual beer?
When it comes to holiday spiced ale in the United States, the inimitable champion is Anchor Brewing’s “Our Special Ale”, the 34th edition of their Christmas wassail, with its pine-spruce essence reappearing every year in the aroma. Staying within the palate parameters of this much discussed ale, that changes, or more accurately, adds variations to the recipe, year after year, this version in no way disappoints. A very festive, flavorful, easy to drink Christmas ale. I would forget about storing this for later, this beer has no need need to improve with time. There is plenty of complexity to experience while enjoying this fresh.
By contrast, Harpoon’s Winter Warmer is a straight forward, rather rough recipe, which simply puts emphasis on cinnamon and nutmeg.
Blue Moon’s Full Moon Winter Ale makes Belgian claims by its use of dark candy sugar, but it is not Belgian style ale at all. Instead, there is a full body, malty ale of moderate strength, that is hearty, smooth, and approachable.
One holiday creation, it is said will develop over five years, and that is Goose Island Christmas Ale, the mahogany colored pour from the Chicago beer company. Having sampled “vintage” versions, the ale will reveal its British based lineage, but this only deprives you of the wonderful flavor of a fresh bottle. With its chocolate-citrus flavor notes. This finishes with an orange-chocolate note. Fantastic. Not to be missed.
Probably one of the greatest recipes in production at present is Brooklyn Brewery’s Brooklyn Winter Ale, an almost unbelievable tribute to the Scottish Maris Otter malts. Of all the wonderful beers of this season, I hold this in the highest regard. Cheers!
SAMUEL ADAMS WINTER CLASSICS
25 Oct 2008 1 Comment
in beer, dunkel weizenbock, holiday beer, porter, stout, wassail
How quickly time moves towards the holidays. Just beginning to register the Oktoberfest/Pumpkin beers when the winter brews begin to arrive. No brighter example of this can be found than the appearance of the Samuel Adams winter collection.
Samuel Adams Cranberry Lambic is the one I am always most baffled about. Using the Belgian term lambic implies the use of open air, spontaneous fermentation, which this is not. But putting aside technical definitions, what we have here is a delicious dessert bier, that would go well with a crisp, buttered waffle. The use of maple syrup combined with cranberry juice, gives this brew a taste that is simultaneously sweet and tart.
Samuel Adams Cream Stout is a big generous recipe, with plenty of malted complexity that ends deliciously long. Well suited for colder weather, although the strength is somewhat moderate, the body is rich and full.
What needs to be said about the Boston Lager included in this sampler? It is just a gentle reminder that the Samuel Adams flagship brand is also an American classic.
No greater example of recipe refinement is the Samuel Adams Winter Lager. A spiced dunkel weizenbock, this has become a Beer Doctor favorite. An essential part of the upcoming season.
Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale, their Christmas wassail, has been a favorite of mine ever since the first time I tried it, many years ago, when it came out in a 25.4 ounce bottle. In fact, I complain about the fact that this marvelous brew is no longer a stand alone offering.
The same can be said of Samuel Adams Holiday Porter. This year’s edition is one of the finest porters I have ever tasted, and I mean that, Synebrychoff included.
Winter will soon beckon and the blessings of great brew will warm the season.
Thank you.
