I am not a Certified Cicerone yet, but I have passed my first test! I am now going to humblebrag for a bit. I am a Certified Beer Server according to the Cicerone people!
Thanks to Tom Kelley and his preparation class that I took in April, I was able to pass on my first go. Though I had not taken a test in many a moon and was VERY nervous as I hit the button to begin the test. But now I have a pretty certificate to hang in my office as I go hunting for a job in the world of craft beer!
Ode to Lambic
Beachwood BBQ’s Ode to Lambic at the Downtown Long Beach location will be presenting an Ode to Lambic today! Here is the scoop and more importantly the beer list…..
“Spontaneous fermentation, local microbial micro flora, 100 year old oak barrels, Wild yeast, brewing traditions that have been preserved since the middle ages….”a taste of history” according to the late, great beer writer Michael Jackson. Lambic is truly a window into the past, a craft that is still subject to the forces of nature and perhaps the best example of terrior that the beer world has to offer. It is a unique representation of a brewery’s environment, an intricate expression of the brewers craft and still to this day, one of the most mesmerizing categories of beer being produced. Come join us for a celebration of lambic and the amazing beers that they have continued to inspire, unique food pairings and guest speakers. For those of you that have been squirreling away your favorite lambic beers, in hopes of sharing them with like minds, this may be your opportunity. We’d like to extend the celebration with a bottle share of your favorites.”
Draft List:
Cantillon Kriek
Tilquin Gueuze
St. Louis Gueuze
Bockor Oude Lambic
Boon Framboise
The Bruery Sans Pagaie Kriek
Jolly Pumpkin Bambic
Bottle List:
3 Fonteinen Oude Kriek
3 Fonteinen Oude Gueuze
3 Fonteinen Schaerbeekse Kriek
Brewer’s by the Bay
Usually, if I am asking for the beer geeks of the world to spend some cash to help a start-up, it is for a brewery. Or for a film about beer. This is for the latter, so we can all learn a bit more about what is brewing past and present in San Francisco.
“The Story
The history of brewing beer in San Francisco spans over 150 years, beginning with the Adam Schuppert Brewery in 1849. Between 1849 and the present there have been more than 100 breweries in the beautiful city of San Francisco, today history is still being brewed within nine active breweries.
Brewers by the Bay is the cinematic tale of the past, present and future of San Francisco brewing, told by the owners and brewmasters themselves within the following establishments:
21st Amendment
Anchor Brewing Co.
Beach Chalet
Gordon Biersch Restaurant and Brewery
Magnolia Gastropub and Brewery
Social Kitchen and Brewery
Southern Pacific Brewery
ThirstyBear Brewing
Speakeasy Ales and Lagers
The film is written by Mike Pitsker the Associated Editor of Celebrator Magazine and is hosted by Brenden Dobel the Brewmaster at ThirstyBear Brewing Co.
The brewmasters have opened up their kettles and have shared tales of mishaps, fortune and the amazing friendships and camaraderie that stirs among each other.
Brew Cave
Now if I had one the MegaMillions when it was at a bazillion dollars last month, one of the splurges that I would have made would have been to pick up one of these Brewcaves.
They sort of look like the shed that my dad had out back and I didn’t see a price tag on the website and I am sure the cost to operate would be a big line item on the electric bill but wouldn’t it be cool to have?
Instead of the boxes or cartons that most people store in or having to get a second ‘fridge so actual food can go into the main one. You could have a great beer shed!
Session # 63
This month is being hosted by Pete Brown and here is the topic at hand….
“My approach to beer writing is by no means the only approach, but I write to try to encourage other people to share the simple joy of beer as much as I do, to switch on people who drink beer but don’t particularly care about it that much, to suggest to them that there’s so much more they might enjoy. No one says you have to do it this way, and no one ever made me the spokesperson for beer. It’s just how I decided to write, in the same way others decided to write in an opinionated way about what they love, and what they hate.
So in that spirit, my choice of topic – with 62 topics already covered – is this: simply, the Beer Moment.
What is it?
Well, what is it to you? What does that phrase evoke for you?
That’s the most important thing here. Switch off and float downstream, what comes to mind? Don’t analyse it – what are the feelings, the emotions?
I’ve been thinking about this quite a lot recently, because I’ve been talking about it to various people who are working hard to try to improve the image of beer in the UK. Because whether we articulate it or not, whether we drink vile, sunstruck Corona or barrel aged imperial stout brewed with weasel shit, it’s about the moment far more than the liquid itself. The only people who disagree with me on this are people I wouldn’t want to share a beer with.
The moment – for me – is relaxation, reward, release, relief and refreshment. It’s a moment to savour, a moment of mateship, potential, fulfilment, anticipation, satisfaction, and sheer bliss.
It’s different from the moment you drink wine or spirits – it’s more egalitarian, more sociable. It’s not just about the flavour, nor the alcohol. It’s about the centuries of tradition and ritual, the counterpoint to an increasingly stressful life, and the commonality, the fact that it means the same thing to so many.
At least – I think it does. What does it mean to you?”
There are so many individual moments related to specific beers or brewery tours or craft beer events where it seems like time stops and all of the thoughts pinging around my brain, all of the stresses and world events are shut down and focused on the here and now. Probably akin to meditation if I had the patience to practice that art form.
That pinpoint of time, to me, is not limited to craft beer. It is embedded into life. Some last longer and either “embiggen” the soul as the Simpsons would say or make my heart grow three sizes in the words of Dr. Seuss.
Unfortunately, the watched kettle does not boil (to keep using allusions) and to expect or try to manufacture these “moments” decreases the chances of experiencing one. Barring sunrise at the Grand Canyon or being courtside for a Portland Trailblazer NBA championship which are flat out automatically awe inspiring and thus “moments”.
But back to the point before I wander too far off. Filed under great beer moments in the old memory cabinet is a sub-folder that I treasure the most. Those magical beer surprises. Be it stumbling upon an old train station in Leipzig and having my first Gose or sitting on a bus near Greg Koch as he texted Sam Calagione. But the one surprise that I sometimes look too hard for is when a beer hits that sweet spot and all of the flavors and aromas just explode and all I want to do is buy a case of the stuff that minute.
The most recent example of that is Wookey Jack from Firestone-Walker. I am not a big Black IPA fan. Nor do I have a horse in the naming race that is attached to the style. But I had seen it recommended and Firestone-Walker is no brewing slouch so I popped the cap and was greeted with a big vegetal, grassy, grapefruit rind aroma. My first thought was that it was just too much. But I bravely soldiered on. And for about five sips, that burst of aroma calmed and the rye spice and citra hop lept to the forefront and I was stopped in my tracks. The cat, the TV and the nightly chores all faded to white noise and I was in the eye of the moment.
The last tastes did not reach those sublime heights as the maltiness chimed in and pushed the lemon and spice to the side but for 1/2 a bottle that beer was golden.
There will be more moments like this in the future and I will remember each fondly for that fraction of peace that was given.
Wild Sierra
I have had the pleasure of having a few Mammoth Brewing beers and this looks like another winner and a bit of a departure what with the Lactobacillus and all. And the label is nice and soothing. Now this is 3rd on my Mammoth list behind the two bear beers, Dos Osos and Tres Osos.
Imperialized Strauss
Karl Strauss has doubled down on some of their most popular beers and a new series of beers were born. Off the Rails was the first and now it is joined by two friends.
Off The Rails
“A spin on the company’s Gold Medal winning Red Trolley Ale, Off the Rails takes Red Trolley to the next level with a robust toffee malt character, balanced by an earthy Willamette hop flavor. This Imperial Irish Red Ale will age well, but we won’t tell if you drink it now.”
Tower 20 Double IPA
“We first brewed this beer last year at the Karl Strauss Wall St. Brewdown and the feedback was unanimous—Tower 20 IIPA had to be bottled. Our brewers packed a huge amount of Centennial, Cascade, and Crystal hops into each barrel of this deceptively smooth double IPA and then dry-hopped with Crystals for an intense, citrus aroma. Resist the urge to stockpile and drink this one fresh.”
Wreck Alley Imperial Stout
“Our brewer’s work is equally fueled by beer and coffee, so it made sense to combine the two into one tasty beverage. The result is Wreck Alley Imperial Stout. This opaque, black beer is brewed with a slightly fruity variety of Ethiopian coffee and then “dry-hopped” with cacao nibs for a rich chocolate flavor in the finished beer. Wreck Alley’s ready to drink now, but will only improve with time.”
Karl’s Imperial Collection will be available year-round across California in select retail stores beginning April 2012. For more information, visit .
Crafty Carton
At first, I thought this article was an April Fools joke. But apparently it isn’t and it is yet another angle on the take home container.
Who know? Maybe the Crafty Carton craze will take hold.
Interlock
I saw this in the Los Angeles Times (would have added a link, but they are in a pay for everything mode currently). Take a quick read and then below is my take on the topic.
I was all set to rant against the interlock device but after reading and re-reading this opinion piece, I think I semi-support it. If changes are added.
If the machine is set to the legal limit and not ratcheted down to protect against the almost drunk and as long as that information stays in the car, I could support this. But here is the BIG if: it must be set uniformly across the country. I do not want to deal with 50 different versions. Beer laws are already needlessly complex.
A piece of electronics that would save lives and the cost to the driver (other than the cost of adding it to a car) is simply time and nothing else? The only thing a craft beer fan would have to do is change their drinking habits by adding water and food (if they don’t already) and then if they are over the limit. Guess what? Take a walk. Find a coffee house. Wait it out.
Of the percentage of drivers that this would affect, craft beer drinkers would be the minority. Just as they are now. And of that minority, I would like to think that craft beer customers are smarter. (They already pick better beer). Smart enough that the percentage affected among the small percentage should be smaller than the typical BMC water lager drinker. And I think it would do us all good (myself included) to learn what our limits are occasionally. Lest we forget.
It would force so many people to re-evaluate and change their behavior. More designated drivers would be on the road. More taxis called and more people staying alive. And I don’t think it would stop people going out all that much. Because, craft beer fans love beer on tap and won’t be able to get some of it in bottles, so they will HAVE to go out.
Here is the kicker. If deaths caused by drunken drivers falls, the oft repeated complaint of road danger would be weakened. How could an anti-alcohol crusader use a statistic that was being addressed to stop future craft beer locales from sprouting? It takes a big arrow from their quiver.
Brew for the Cure
I saw this one of the e-mails that I got from the Yeastside Brewers homebrew club. Looks like a fun way to try some of the great homebrew that is flowing in the L.A. area and support a good cause.
“The Brew for the Cure Homebrew Festival is happening May 13th. This is a call for entries. We need the great homebrewers of Southern California to jump into the fight against cancer and help us throw a kick ass party! It’s a chance to hang out with friends compete for prizes and get your beer out there to see what people think. There will be music and food, and the home brew will be flowing. Prizes will be awarded to the winning beers chosen by the public.
Entrants as well as attendants will not be charged, but there is a suggested donation of 20 dollars that will go directly to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to help fund cancer research. All proceeds from the festival will be donated to charity. It’s a great excuse to drink beer for a good cause.”