Category: Guide to better beer

how to discover new beer to try

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Will the collaborating ever stop…

…I certainly hope not. This is what separates us from most other industries. Do movie studios collaborate? Do car companies collaborate?

Well, here is yet another in what seems like an endless stream of mash-ups
“Just released in the U.S.

Nogne-O Tiger Tripel Norwegian Ale
ABV = 9%
Ingredients: Malted barley, wheat, malted wheat, sugar, hops, yeast and local Grimstad water.

“It is very difficult to brew a complex and balanced Belgian-style tripel ale, but we have made an attempt at brewing one anyway! Our respect and admiration for those who master the skill and art of brewing excellent ale of this style is limitless. Tripels often pair will with cheese,seafood and fresh vegetables.” — Kjetill Jikiun – Head Brewer

Nogne/Mikkeller Tyttebaer Ale
ABV = 8.0%
A collaboration between Nogne and Mikkeller
Ingredients: Malted barley, unmalted wheat, malted wheat, Lingonberries, hops, Brettanomyces yeast, Lactobacillus and Grimstad water.

“Tyttebaer is also known as a lingonberry or mountain cranberry. This ale is full of Tyttebaer, and fermented with wild yeasts and bacteria. Feral at heart, it sat in fermentation tanks for 9 months and in bottles for 6 more months before we felt it was ready to be released. Who knows what it will do before ending up in your glass…It is, and always will be,wild.” — Kjetill Jikiun – Head Brewer”

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Ginger beer from Hitachino Nest

Occasionally, I will let trusted beer tasters give me the rundown on what they are drinking (especially if it is something I haven’t had before).

My mystery reviewer “walked away with Real Ginger Brew from Hitachino Nest. The first taste is really light and bright followed by a slightly metallic taste. Ginger flavor is not prominent and it’s not dusty spicy at all. In fact I didn’t think there was a Ginger bite at all until I realized my palate was tingling about a quarter of the way thruogh the glass. It went nicely with my green bean chicken.”

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New roads for hops

If you go to FoodGPS.com, you will see the latest musings by yours truly on the latest trends in hoppy beers. You will also probably see a new restaurant or cafe you will want to try out. I found at least three places to try in San Francisco when I drive there in November.

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Loser Pale

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I love the special beers, the anniversary beers, the once and done beers. And now, a pale from Elysian. A pale as a tribute? Counter to trend, but I like it. A Pale Ale made in honor of 20 years of records from Sub Pop. Sounds like a winner to me.

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Sierra Dog Nevada Fish

from Beer Advocate…
This fall independent craft brewers Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head, will release two collaborative beers. Limb & Life-a draft-only beer-will debut in October; with Life & Limb 24oz bottles and limited draft to follow in November.

Life & Limb is a 10% ABV strong beer that defies style characteristics-brewed with pure maple syrup from the Calagione family farm in Massachusetts and estate barley grown on the Grossman “farm” at the brewery in Chico. The beer is alive with yeast-a blend of both breweries’ house strains-bottle conditioned for added complexity and shelf life, and naturally carbonated with birch syrup fresh from Alaska; it is the first beer we know of ever to use birch syrup in the brew. If stored under good conditions, this rich, full-bodied beer should age well for years. Life & Limb will be available in 24-oz. bottles and limited draft starting this November.

Limb & Life is a companion to the big beer-an acorn off the larger tree. It is a 5% ABV small beer-a low-gravity beer made using the residual sugar as “second runnings” from the first larger brew, fortified with American hops. This is a session beer. Its big brother is a sipper. Limb & Life will be a limited draft-only product, a prelude to the bigger beer, available in select bars and restaurants this October.