Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer
how to discover new beer to try
September in the world is a transition to cooler weather patterns, unless you are in LA. This is the start of second summer in my book. So my choices for this month are a bastard hybridization of fall and summer with some spring thrown in there for good measure.
So take a look at my light, medium and dark choices from Stone Brewing, Redhook Brewing and Ayinger of Germany!
Prost!
The first couple of weeks in September are a magical time for hopheads and lovers of the bitter beers.
It is when the fresh (wet) hop ales start flowing. Usually because they are marketed as such, they end up mostly in kegs and mostly local. There are some bottled versions (Full Sail and Bridgeport in Portland) and even canned versions (the new Surly Wet) but the best bet is to check your local brewery or craft beer bar for what’s coming in the next couple weeks.
You can call or quiz your barkeep. But what I found to work is to friend them on Facebook or if you do the tweet thing, follow them there. If you are in Los Angeles, head to Ladyface Ales in Agoura Hills. They have a fresh hop XPA, Palo Comado that is delicious.
These are great beers with a real kick and sparkle to them.
Dogfish Head’s 1st ever beer event in LA and the sales manager for the west coast will be on hand!
Then add in Chef Eric Greenspan and The Foundry
Then add in Randy Clemens who just authored the Sriracha Cookbook
You must pre-register to attend, you can’t just show up and get in.
Click HERE to find tickets
I am a Craft Beer Drinker from New Brew Thursday on Vimeo.
..are you?
If not get out there and not settle. The message needs repeating. Be it from craft brewers in America or Canada.
Yes, cheese goes great with beer (and vice-versa). So why not visit one of the most sought after cheesemongers in beer soaked Portland.
“We have a rotating menu of sandwiches, salads, soup, baked cazuelas, and cheese and meat plates. We have 6 rotating beer taps, bottled beer, and wine to enjoy here or to go. Menu items incorporate local and seasonal ingredients. Our focus is on food that is beer and wine friendly.”
You don’t have to sacrifice good food for craft beer.
Here is what the press release has to say…“The author of Notes on a Beermat: Drinking and Why It’s Necessary is back. Nick Pashley brings his wit to bear on beer’s illustrious history in Canada, from Prohibition (and who thought that was a good idea?) to the beer that turned Quebec City drinkers blue and actually killed sixteen of them in 1966. Where else this season will you find a book that includes Prince Charles, Paris Hilton, Ron Keefe, and Rocco Perri, the great Hamilton bootlegger of the 1920s (you may be able to find him today encased in cement at the bottom of Burlington Bay)?”
From that description, it looks to be a fun book. I have recently read two history books. Both great topics. One was as dry as day old toast. The other is bright and lively. I certainly hope this book is more of the latter. You can find this at Amazon. (And to digress, shouldn’t Amazon ship beer?)
Scottish craft beer is on the rise. BrewDog gets the press but if you dig, you can find some really good beers like those from West Brewing.
Like…
St. Mungo
“Our beer homage to Glasgow’s Patron Saint and fellow brewer. Mungo is a clean and crisp amber-coloured lager beer with a distinctive malt sweetness and subtle hop bitterness, including refreshing notes of vanilla and citrus.
A very drinkable and palette- cleansing beer, excellent with food. (ABV 4.9%)”
Tallgrass is a Kansas based brewery that is into the can thing. This beer caught my eye recently…
OASIS
(ABV 7.2%, 93 IBU)
“Oasis is a Double ESB/IPAish beer that came about from playing around with one of Jeff’s favorite homebrew recipes. Here at Tallgrass we love malt and we love hops, and this beer has both of them in record quantities; well, at least records for our baby brewery.
As our summer seasonal at 7.2% ABV and 93 IBU, Oasis is a big beer that has to be priced a bit higher than our regular line of beers. We think that once you taste the over-the-top hops and surprisingly sturdy malt backbone you will realize why it’s worth it.”
On the heels of “OREgasmic” comes Creek. A dual meaning beer name in the Chatoe Rogue series that also includes Dirtoir Black Lager and Single Malt Ale.
“Creek” is a cherry beer (AKA Kriek). Montmercy cherries to be exact. The beer is dedicated to the creeks of Oregon and the really large creek, the Willamette that is on the eastern edge of the Rogue hopyard.
As with the other Chatoe beers, all ingredients are incredibly local and all Oregon. Including their own Revolution hop and Dare and Risk Malts.