Stone Brewing is getting into the science of Zumology with their new “monstrously refreshing” IPA with Zumo hops from Segal Ranch as the lead. Their will be some Mosaic in there as well if you want an extra bitter boost. Per Stone protocol, this will be a higher ABV beer hitting 7.5%.
A Mad March Hare
Despite being married to a half Irish lass, I have not ever tasted a proper poitín aka Mountain Dew. That changed this year, when I bought a bottle from Mad March Hare.
I did smile at the “quietly distilled” wording on the label as well as the triple distilled declaration because I have learned a bit about the number of distillations and how each cleans up impurities but also strip away flavor, generally, of course.
Enough wordplay, what does this poteen taste like? Drinking from the logo’d mug that came with the bottle, the aroma was strong. Alcohol and minty. The eyes do sting a bit bringing mug to lips but the taste is brisk and botanical. Mint and herbs for me with a burn down the pipe.
One of the recipes on the website was for an Irish Mule with ginger beer and lime and bitters which after tasting the poitín neat makes me wonder who would win that powerful flavor battle royale. I would instead go the martini route. Have the botanicals from the Vermouth work with the mint.
I like this neat but could see it working as a cocktail minor player more.
Old Thomasina
On my latest visit to Portland, I went to the Freeland Distillery and quite liked their gins. I missed out on trying their latest though, an Old Tom. It is their Dry Gin barrel-aged “for 6 months in hand-selected whiskey barrels from women-owned Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey.” I do like their whiskey and story as well.
Also, “This exclusive release marries the art of distillation with a cause—supporting women entrepreneurs. AND $5 of each bottle supports Re:Her.”
That is a win, win and win.
A Book & A Beer – The Trees by Percival Everett
I have been reading a lot of Percival Everett lately. Dr. No, Erasure, So Much Blue, his latest James. But today it is The Trees.
The trees are referencing hangings. Lynching of black men. Right away there is a heaviness and sadness and anger surrounding this tale. Ostensibly, it is a murder mystery set in Money, Mississippi but Everett is extremely skilled in both humor and sarcasm which you can see by the names chosen for various characters (Junior Junior / Red Jetty) and also by the slapstick plot point and buddy cop banter throughout.
When I hear that a book is funny, most of the time, that is an exaggeration to me. But this book is funny, sad and violent and has a history lesson too. I read one synopsis that had Tarantino films as a comp. I agree with that.
One passage (of many) that struck a chord is the following between the two detectives on the case:
Ed said. “Here we are. The Lorraine Motel. There on that corner of that balcony. I was ten. That’s why I’m a cop.”
“It’s a museum now,” Jim said.
“And it shouldn’t be,” Ed said.
“Why not?” Quip asked.
“It’s just a motel. That’s what it is. That’s all it is,” Ed said. “People should rent out that very room and sleep in that very bed and step through that very door and stand on that balcony and realize what happened there. People should know, understand that not all Thursdays are the same.”
excerpt from The Trees
This is a novel that will stick with you and keep you thinking.
For beer, keep your thinking cap on. Get to researching minority owned breweries and buy their most complicated beers. The ones with the most added ingredients. The aged beers. The beers that are decocted. The beers with history about them.
18
Yes, I thought that the movie The Witch was great and that the goat portraying Black Peter should have won an award but what caught my eye about this Wayfinder Beer release is not the sinister connotations that abound, but rather that the style is sparkling lager. Hope a bit makes it way to L.A.from Portland.
High 10
It is high time that Los Angeles craft beer fans get a 10 year brewery! And that brewery is Highland Park. The bifurcated Highland Park / Chinatown brewery will have “special High 10 releases” between March 25th – March 31st.
What is so special, you ask? Well they will “be re-releasing past High anniversary beers each week.” Leading up to High 10.
Sean Suggests for March 2024
Staying local for March and also canvassing a wide array of styles so that your palate does not get stuck. And yes, I do not approve of green beer and the first selection is a green hued beer, but, in my defense, it is also a sour. So that means less of a points deduction.
Far Field Made With Luck Sour – 4.1% – “As luck would have it, your favorite clover-green sour ale returns to our shelves and draft lines just ahead of St. Patrick’s Day.”
Creature Comforts Spring Belgian-Style White Ale – 5.1% – “We’ve got Spring Fever. Our fresh take on the classic Belgian-Style White Ale is brewed with orange peel, coriander, and local wheat from Day Spring Farms.”
Enegren Brewing Doppel Valkyrie – 8.2% – “a double version of our beloved flagship altbier, Valkyrie and a throwback to some of our first anniversary beers. This strong, dark ale has rich flavors of dark fruits with hints of dark chocolate and rum, balanced with just a touch of Mt. Hood and Herkules hops.
Tomorrow is Infinite
As in the annual Infinite Wishes Day at Smog City. I am a bit of a purist so I will be sticking with the first beer on the list but #2 piques my interest as well.
1. OG – “as always the pure, unadulterated Infinite Wishes batch”
2. Almond Joyous – “a little coconut, a little chocolate, all delicious”
3. French Vanilla – “smooth, creamy and rich, a classic”
4. Strawberry Dip – “chocolate covered and sinfully sweet berry notes”
Arrowing in on Hops
Arrow Lodge Brewing has a steady stream of new beers and I want to put two IPAs on your radar.
One because it is a collaboration with Inu Island Ales in Kaneohe, Hawaii and the second just because I like the name, West in Class.
Love & Whiskey
Some people must not sleep. In addition to running Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey and also starting a cognac line (in France), Fawn Weaver has also written a history of Nearest Green which you can pre-order, called Love & Whiskey.
You may know of Nearest Green because he was the distiller for a, checking notes, Jack Daniels. How Green was lost to Tennessee whiskey and then re-found is the story of this book and one that I cannot wait to read.