I'm back!

I'm back from my travels and happy to be home with family! This trip to Las Vegas didn't prove as fruitful a beer trip as others, but it was fun nonetheless. I have much to post on in the next few weeks, so keep an eye out for some fun, interesting, and foamy entries! I have some new things in the works and I'm looking forward to good things to come. I hope you are, too!

What a weekend!

My wife and I decided to get away from the three little ones this weekend, so we hauled them over to Nana's and had a weekend to ourselves. Being child-free for the weekend, we were able to go places and do things we can't with our spawn in tow. That being said, I have many things to post about, but am off to Las Vegas for a business conference tomorrow, so memories of this weekend will have to wait to be posted about until I get back. Who knows, with a fair number of craft brewers occupying Sin City, I may have even more to post about after my trip! In my absence the next few days, please make your own memories. Just be sure they are pleasant, hoppy, and frothy memories!

What is an Ale?

A malt beverage brewed with (usually) barley malt and fermented at relatively high temperatures (60-75 Fº) with top fermenting yeast, which usually creates a fruity taste. Ales are produced with a wide variety of colors, palates and alcoholic strengths.

Are we really this simple?

Ridiculous, useless, & probably untrue beer facts #3

Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. "Wet your whistle" is the phrase inspired by this practice.

Deschutes Mirror Mirror & The Abyss

Tonight Deschutes Brewery was featured at Main Tap Tavern in El Cajon. Two of their stellar seasonals were on tap.

Mirror Mirror
11% abv

Mirror Mirror is an inspired version of the brewery’s flagship, Mirror Pond Pale Ale, which has been doubled up to barley wine strength – yielding a rich malt base with hints of raisin and oak tinged with the slightest citrus hop aroma.

The Abyss

11% abv

The Abyss has immeasurable depth inviting you to explore and discover its rich, complex profile. Hints of molasses, licorice and other alluring flavors draw you in further and further with each sip.

They gave away a nifty gift pack with each purchase: A 4 ounce Deschutes taster glass, leather coaster, and key chain bottle opener. Great beer and a good time. Find these beers on tap or bottled and give them a shot. They are both well worth a taste.

Brewers Association Launches CraftBeer.com

Press release from The Brewers Association today:

"The Brewers Association, the trade association representing the majority of U.S. brewing companies, has just launched CraftBeer.com to celebrate the ever-growing interest in craft brewers and their liquid libations. The new site is a consumer portal providing information and community interaction for craft beer enthusiasts everywhere."

Classic

Coronado Neptune's Nectar

Neptune's Nectar from Coronado Brewing Co. is one of my favorite offerings from the island bound brewer. This 8.5% Belgian strong ale has a rich, malty aroma and a cloudy, dense appearance. It has a huge mouthfeel, and an almost thick consistency. Initially it is quite sweet, but trails off into a slightly bitter finish. This is a fairly complex brew and deserves a taste. You can try this at the brewery restaurant by the glass or growler fill, or in 22 ounce bottles which should be available at your favorite beer retailer sometime this week. If you go into the restaurant, Sunday is the best day to go as growler fills are only $6! That's a steal for a beer of this caliber. Now I'm going to finish my glass, and possibly growler, so go get your own!

Ridiculous, useless, & probably untrue beer facts #2

In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts. In old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them "Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down." It's where we get the phrase "Mind your P's and Q's".

Light beer, anyone?

Ballast Point Fathom IPL

What's an IPL? A special creation by Ballast Point Brewing Co., this India Pale Lager cannot be pigeonholed into any category. It's crisp, clean, & refreshing like a lager, but with a glowing hops presence and higher alcohol content (7.9%) of an IPA. It has a beautiful, dark golden hue and huge hops aroma. It sips cleanly, and the hops hit you immediately. While the punch of the hops is there, it is somehow muted in such a way so as to fade quickly. A hint of tobacco is perceivable, but its smokiness turns almost sweet in the back of the throat, and trails off into a smooth, dry finish. With the complexity of this brew, you really need to try it for yourself to see what all is going on here. Go to http://www.ballastpoint.com for directions to the newly renovated Linda Vista Home Brew Mart location, or the Old Grove location for a sample of this unique beer. Until you do, you just won't "Get the Point!".

Are you a labeorphilist?

Most people have collections of one sort or another. Some people collect stamps. Others collect Pez dispensers. Others may collect rocks. If you like beer, you might collect different types of beer bottles. If you do, you are a labeorphilist.

Beer Inspiration

Ridiculous, useless, & probably untrue beer facts #1

It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon.

Beer & Cupcakes?

Sounds good to me!



Click here if you don't see the video.

Karl Strauss 21st Anniversary Ale

Karl Strauss Brewing Co. is a San Diego institution, and this ale is the culmination of 21 years of great craft beer here in America's Finest City. Weighing in at over 10% alcohol, this Belgian strong ale is brewed with juice from old vine Zinfandel grapes. I had a hard time picking out the aroma and flavor at first. I got notes of prune, raisin, and even currants. On my second session with the brew I got hints of bourbon, and a large alcohol presence. It was only after my tasting that I found out it was brewed with Zinfandel grapes, and then what I had tasted finally made sense to me. It had a rich mahogany color, light carbonation, and a resinous, oaky finish. I liked it quite a bit, but it's richness prohibited me from drinking more than a glass or two at a sitting. I doubt this will be available for long, so I recommend getting to your local Karl Strauss soon to try it for yourself. If you make it in by Sunday you can pick up a growler of it for only $9.95, a steal for a beer of this caliber. Take it home, pour a glass, let it sit for a bit, sip it at close to room temperature, and let me know what you think. Whatever you conclude about this one, you have to respect the legendary brewing of Karl Strauss!

Honest Pint Project

What is the Honest Pint Project? Simply put, they want to ensure that when you buy a pint of beer at your local beer bar or restaurant, you get a full pint, or 16 ounces, of beer. As a restaurant or bar owner, you can become a Certified Purveyor of Honest Pints through this organization. Here is a quote from their web site:

"All across the country, restaurants and taverns regularly serve patrons less than 16 ounces of liquid. This isn’t against the law and there aren’t any standards that enforce a uniform measure. The result is a market in which some pubs serve beer in 20-ounce imperial pints while others use glassware as small as 14 ounces. There’s no transparency, and patrons often end up unwittingly paying a premium for beer served in small glasses. In other countries, like Germany and England, volume is listed on the glass so patrons can compare prices based on equal measures. It’s fair for beer drinkers, and it’s good for the marketplace."

If you own an establishment that serves beer, get certified! If not, the next time you are at your favorite watering hole, ask if they are certified. Together, we can all insure that when we order a beer, we get an Honest Pint!

New English Brewing Co.

I haven't tried anything from New English Brewing Co. yet, but hope to soon. If you are familiar with them, or know of the old Mission Brewery building located right off I-5 near Washington St., this news story will be of interest to you. Enjoy!

Karl Strauss growler special

Karl Strauss is having a special on their half gallon growlers this weekend. Friday, Saturday, & Sunday you can get a new growler, filled with ANY of their beer, for only $9.95! The price is normally $14 for the growler filled with any of their regular release beer. Special releases are up to $6 more. This deal gets you a new growler filled with one of their special releases for half-price! Find the nearest location at http://www.karlstrauss.com They only do this once in a while, so hurry in for a growler, or two, or three.

Thirsty?

Bummer