Category: Guide to better beer

how to discover new beer to try

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The Monks of Chico?

Even though Sierra Nevada did not choose my award winning short film for the Beer Camp contest. I will continue to both drink and pimp out their beers and projects because I believe in the beer they make even though their taste in humor is obviously skewed. (My poor acting had nothing to do with not making the top 20 of course.)

So here is the slightly abridged (juicy bits) from the latest Sierra Nevada press release.

“For nearly 1000 years, monks have been brewing ales behind monastery walls. Their closely guarded traditions and techniques produced styles of beer unlike anything else in the world. These unique Trappist-style Abbey ales are known for their uncompromising quality and compelling flavor. In 2011, Sierra Nevada and the Trappist-Cistercian Abbey of New Clairvaux are working to bring this centuries-old tradition to America with Ovila—the nation’s only authentic Trappist-style Abbey Ale.

This series of three Belgian -style Abbey ales is made in accordance with the centuries-old tradition of the monks. Each beer will be only be available for a limited time and will rotate through the seasons. The first beer in the series, scheduled for release in March, will be a Belgian-style Dubbel brewed with authentic Trappist yeast. The second beer in the series, scheduled for release in July, will be a Saison, the traditional Belgian-style farmhouse ale made in honor of the Monk’s dedication to labor in the fields surrounding their abbey. The third will be released in time for the holidays. It will be a Trappist-style Quadrupel rich with dark fruit flavors and the unique wine-like characters of these strong Abbey ales.

Proceeds from this project will benefit the monks of the Abbey of New Clairvaux in their efforts to rebuild an architectural marvel—a 12th century, early-gothic Cistercian chapter house—on their grounds in Vina, California a few miles north of Sierra Nevada’s home in Chico. The medieval chapterhouse—Santa Maria de Ovila—was begun in 1190, near the village of Trillo, Spain.

Cistercian monks lived, prayed, and worked there for nearly 800 years. In 1931, California newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst purchased the abbey and shipped it to Northern California. Hearst’s plans were never realized, and the stones fell into disrepair. In 1994, the Trappist-Cistercian monks of the Abbey of New Clairvaux, gained possession of the ruins, and began the painstaking stone-by-stone reconstruction of the historic abbey.

Located in Vina, California, the Abbey of New Clairvaux is a Cistercian Abbey of Strict Observance (Trappist). The abbey was founded in 1955 on 590 acres of Leland Stanford’s famed Vina Ranch. The monks follow the Rule of St. Benedict—Ora est Labora (Prayer and Work) and spend their days in prayer, meditation, and tending to the labor of the working farm located at the abbey.”

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Beer Pair(ing)

Here is a heads up. One week from today, the great Library Alehouse is pairing with the Beer Chicks for a beer dinner pairing that benefits What a Pair.
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Here is the 411 and the menu:
“Christina Perozzi and Hallie Beaune, better known as the Beer Chicks, are the co-authors of The Naked Pint an Unadulterated Guide to Craft Beer. They will be on hand to show us their Pair(ings), and guide you through some of beer’s best styles. Come and learn a little about the world’s favorite beverage.

15% of sales from the entire day will be donated to What a Pair.
Cost is $50 a ticket. Seating is limited, please RSVP ASAP.
To RSVP call Tom Kelley, Alehouse Cicerone at 310-383-2329 “

Their will be 9 beers with some small plates for pairings.

Mamma’s Little Yella Pilsner

Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen (bottle)

Allagash White – Gioia Ricotta dressed with lemon and Allagash White

Ballast Point Calico Amber – Semi-firm Cheese TBA

Bruery Tradewinds Tripel – Heirloom Tomato Salad

Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA – Fish Taco and mango salsa

Chimay Blue (bottle) – Beef Carbonnade with pommes frites

Rodenbach (bottle) – Chocolate

Coconut Porter – Ice Cream float

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Nano Monday

Mix in an exotic brewer like Trade Route of Washington. (See motto: “Drink our beer and voyage the trade routes of the old world. At Trade Route Brewing Company, we like to think of ourselves as explorers charting the beer frontier. We are inspired by time honored brewing traditions of the world. We innovate with a bounty of wonderful ingredients. We make beer for the adventurous. We make beer for you. Explore the beer frontier.”)

Then add in a 5 gallon homebrew set-up so that you can experiment with small batches.

Then serve it up on Mondays at their tasting room and you have some magic going.

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the Stone collaborations keep coming

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San Diego County Session Ale is the latest in the lovely etched collaboration bottles to soon grace our ‘fridges. It was brewed over the course of the summer by Colby Chandler from Ballast Point, Mitch Steele from Stone and Kelsey McNair from a brewery I have yet to taste from called North Park Beer Co..

I am glad the session is taking over!