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I have heard some good things about this beer and I think this weekend I will have to give it a try. One reason that I haven’t yet is that it is in cans. I have this bias (slowly receding) against cans due to Pabst and Olympia. The second is that I am not a big porter fan. But some times you have to take a leap and try something new.
These two books are musts for any beer library. You had better have a beer library or at least one book by Michael Jackson. Beer School is a great business accented account of how the Brooklyn Brewery was born and nurtured to where it is today. Very interesting on the intricacies of selling beer and creating a entreprenurial mind set.
To cover the beer and food pairing phenomenon, you have to read The Brewmaster’s Table. It is an excellent guide to food and beer. If you don’t learn something new, then you are the one true beer geek god.
If you are in Los Angeles and you venture to the east side, then you must visit the Verdugo Bar. Great, concentrated beer list. Exactly what I would have in a bar. The owner, Ryan knows beer, you can’t go wrong with his list. Corsendonk Apple. Pliny the Elder.
This is one of two breweries that I wish had beer here in Los Angeles. I have had the Belgian Red and the Raspberry Tart and both were beyond excellent. To give you an idea of the styles they have, here are their “unplugged” beers for 2009….Iced Barleywine, Imperial Saison, Eisbock and an Olde English Porter. Makes you want to go to Wisconsin.
As promised, I uncapped the Espresso the other day. Very dark pour. Great foam. Very picturesque. Since I have Portland roots, I have had a few coffee porters and this one is just as good. Rich and malty without an alcohol bite. Perfect for a cold night or a nice cut of steak. It is expensive but it will not dissapoint.
Not to far away from Belmont Station (heck, Portland is a small big town, everything is close), is the enviromentally friendly Hopworks Urban Brewery or HUB. Really cool space. The bank vault from the building before is now a little snug table. They have a plethora of regular beers and even more specials. I had the Abominable Winter Ale and the Belgian Apple. Both very good.
Belmont Station. What can I say. Great selection of beer. Just great. Saw Heater-Allen for the first time, ever. Every time I go in, I see something new. Plus, they have a beer bar next door with amazing taps. If you are anywhere in Oregon, find Belmont Station.
Pricewise, this is a good deal for a mild Belgian / bock style. Sweet and a bit malty. Not overpowering. Could use a little more malt to boost the flavor profile up. What I would call a borderline good beer.
Bayerischer Bahnhof Original Leipziger Gose
A Traditional Ale brewed by
Gasthaus & Gosebrauerei Bayerischer Bahnhof
Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany
Leipziger Gose is a top-fermenting wheat beer {60% wheat, 40% barley malt} with coriander, salt, and lactic acid bacteria added in the boil. As the name implies, the Gose originates from the city of Goslar. It is a 4.6% alc/vol eclectic beer whose name evokes a close relationship to the renowned Lambic/Geuze breweries in Belgium. Only the short supplies in the German Democratic Republic put an end to the exotic beer. Surprisingly the Gose had its renaissance before the German reunification and has been brewed at the train station in Leipzig since 2000. I had this beer on tap in 2006 and it was spectacular. Bottles in the states are easier to come by but have not been as good. It is too delicate a beer to travel.
Imbibe is a cool magazine about all types of drinks. From tea to whisky. This article has given me all sorts of ideas for beer trips.