Category: Discovery Afternoons

news and notes about Beer Search Party tastings.

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Catherina

I have had a few beer styles in my beer drinking lifetime so it is rare to run across one that is totally new to me but All About Beer podcast hosts Em Sauter and Don Tse have found one.

“The Catharina Sour is a popular beer style in Brazil that showcases the rainbow of fruits grown all over Brazil from fruits Americans know like guava and passion fruit but some fruits Americans may not be aware of like caju and jabuticaba.”

“Recognized as a style by the BJCP, the Catharina Sour is a source of pride for Brazilians as this showcases their love for craft brewing, culture, agriculture and more. But what is Catharina sour and how is it brewed?”

Head HERE to learn more about this South American beer.

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Happy 4th of July

Start with a hoppy red ale, move on to a Witbier and then finish with a blueberry muffin pastry stout. Then enjoy the fireworks and the local craft beer you stocked up on today. Just be careful with flames and heat and save some beer for the 5th.

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All Who Wander

This very blog has monthly pairing posts of podcasts, books and sports. One that I do not do is music, but Firestone Walker has you covered the next time you reach for their hazy, Mind Haze.

Click HERE to read more.

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No, now all 14

On Mother’s Day, the BBC and Russell T. Davies announced the actor taking over the key to the TARDIS. Ncuti Gatwa, most likely known for the role of Eric on Sex Education will take over the Tardis from Jodie Whitaker.

This news practically demands a celebratory / anticipatory beer.

And I have a few options for you…

Firstly, because it is a celebration find a big imperial stout that is over the 14% mark but under 15% to tick the numerical box. And no the War Doctor, Fugitive Doctor and the Timeless Child are not included in that number.

Secondly, since Gatwa is Scottish, find a nice Scotch Ale to toast his casting. There will be a nice opportunity to have Capaldi and 14 have an aggressive accent talk.

Lastly, let’s find one of those really blue hard seltzers out there, who am I kidding, but since the Doctor enjoys Jelly Babies and Jammy Dodgers, find yourself a weird as hell pastry stout but no fish fingers and custard.

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Põhjala

I probably course corrected a bit much to the local beer buying habit so at the start of each year, I try to nudge that ship into international beer waters. Hi-Lo Market has an option for you and me fromTallinn, Estonia. The brewery is Põhjala and it is one of the largest craft breweries in the Baltic states. It also made the RateBeer “Top 100” list of world breweries.

There might not be many bottles so hop to it or make your next beer buying trip a non US beer one for variety.

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Pre Post Pandemic Blind Tasting

As we go back under lock key until the morons of the country vaccinate, now might be a good time to return to Zoom but with a blind tasting instead a boring meeting.

This method require driving and some coordination but it also removes the need for an impartial steward. Each member of your blind tasting needs to buy the listed target number of beers needed. Each person in the tasting then covers up the label as best they can and numbers them, keeping a chart handy. Make sure you are working from one package size. A 12oz can or bottle will stick out like a sore thumb.

Then each person drives the masked beer to a designated recipient. This keeps the mystery going. Then set-up your zoom and taste. Since the beers might be in different orders, it adds a layer of detecting if your friend’s #2 beer was your #1.

Then see who can guess beers right or just rank them.

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1st Visit – Far Field Beer Co.

Far Field Beer Co. opened on Saturday after months of doing to-go only and here is my report on the beers and the taproom…

Feller Hoppy Pilsner – very toasty and malt forward.  Not much in the way of hoppiniess though. if sold as lager would work better for me.

Home Range IPA – quite dank. heavy bitterness. pine first and foremost. a little one note. many people ordered it but it lacked depth.

All Terrain Cream Ale – my favorite of the three. no head to it at all though. other than that it has a nice taste to it. a little refining and a little more body and it will be solid.

The taproom is a lovely little spot in the middle of a fast moving Rosecrans Avenue.  It is tucked in between auto shops, thankfully they have a nice big sign to guide you in.  big roll up doors to a small outdoor patio.  long reverse shaped L bar with comfy wooden stools.  7 beers on tap on opening day with 3 IPAs, a hoppy pilsner, a cream ale, a California Common and a Berliner Weisse. 10 barrels tucked into the corner might already be in use though I saw no stouts on the menu. Nice metalwork touches on the upstairs that match the design of the logo and merch. Though the second floor seemed empty at present.

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Beer Before Glory Podcast

We can always use more beer podcasts before we reach peak hops. Now a new ear venture from The Brewing Network and Firestone Walker is here, Beer Before Glory.

I have downloaded the first two episodes. The first being on the origins of IPA and the second on the haze craze. FW knows hops and barrels in equal measure so I look forward to listening and learning.