Cookie Jar Porter

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The brewers at Brooklyn have had some wacky ideas in the past but now they are going back to an old style, the oatmeal stout. Here is what the Brooklyners say…”Of course, oatmeal in beer isn’t a new idea. For centuries brewers have added oats to the mash, giving the resulting beers – usually stouts – silky smooth textures. But how best to create the flavors we had in mind? Out in Jersey City (NYC’s 6th borough), Tom’s friends at Feed Your Soul Bakery make some of the tastiest oatmeal cookies we’ve ever had. After talking to the bakers (and eating a lot of cookies), we brewed a beer from floor-malted barley malt, golden oats, raisins, brown sugar, honey, vanilla beans and a subtle dash of spice.

Brooklyn Cookie Jar Porter brings all these flavors together with light chocolate, coffee and caramel flavors to create a beer that will warm up the coldest nights, even if you don’t have a peat fire. It’s very nice by itself, but perhaps even better with roasted pork, barbecue, or traditional Mexican mole dishes. Or, of course, some oatmeal cookies and ice cream.”

Marin Brewing + Chinese herbs

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Marin Brewing has created a new and unusual beer, an herbal beer made in collaboration with San Anselmo herbalist Dr. Yen-Wei Choong. Yen-Wei runs the Yellow Emperor Natural Healing Center and Zen Garden.
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“Marin Brewmaster Arne Johnson started with his E.S.B. as the base beer. To that, he added 38 pounds of the proprietary mix of Chinese herbs that Dr. Choong created.”

Demolition…

…is a new year-round offering from Goose Island in Chicago. Initially brewed for stalwart regulars who kept the brewery afloat while construction was going on all around their building, it is now coming out in bottles. Here is their description…
“It’s brewed with Saaz and Styrian Golding hops for a grassy, citrus aroma and lots of the finest pale malt for a ‘honey’ malt middle and intense flavor.”
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White or Red

Pete Brown is one of my favorite beer writers (though of late, mostly focused on the new prohibitionists). His three books are great and this POST really looks at the beer vs wine issue from a fresh vantage point. I strongly suggest reading it and then buying his books.

Personally, I think the first step in beer education may have nothing to do with beer. It is educating people on food and drink and how they play with and enhance each other. And even that comes after educating people on real, whole food. Once people understand these basics, they can made informed decisions based upon what really makes their particular palate sing.

Until then people will be staring at the wine and beer choices with a dazed look and just pick the cheapest because if the choice is bad at least it’s cheap. We as beer writers need to continually push to open up beer minds but we can’t overlook the forest for our favorite tree.

Sierra Nevada 30 # 1

Sierra Nevada has really been putting out new stuff left and right. Kellerbier, Life and Limb, Glissade and now the new 30th Anniversary series is under way.
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The label reads, “Fritz Maytag, owner of San Francisco’s Anchor Brewing Company, is regarded as the founding father of the craft brewing movement. Frtiz agreed to guest brew this very special ale with us in honor of our 30th anniversary. As a nod to the dark ales and stouts that seduced both Fritz and Ken in the early years, we bring you this pioneering stout, a rich and roasted ale, perfect for aging, and worthy of your finest snifter.”
Future collaborators may include Jack McAuliffe of New Albion fame, Fred Eckhardt (who already has a Hair of the Dog beer with his name) and Charlie Papazian, the noted homebrewer.

Check the Sierra Nevada website HERE for more up to date information.

John John from Rogue

Here is more news on the John John line of Rogue beers (of which I have had the Hazelnut/Rum). The Gin collaboration sounds intriguing.

In a collaboration of crafts, Rogue Brewmaster John Maier and Rogue Spirits Master Distiller John Couchot have joined forces to create a distinct, innovative series of brews called John John Ales. The series will take Rogue Ales legends and age them in Rogue Spirits barrels. A 3,100 gallon batch of John John Ale produces 1357 cases of beer.

The first of the John John series is John John Dead Guy Ale, Rogue’s award winning Dead Guy Ale matured in Rogue’s award winning Dead Guy Whiskey barrels. The cross collaboration of these two products starts with the distilling of Dead Guy Ale wort to create the Dead Guy Whiskey. The Whiskey is aged in Oak Barrels and bottled, then the Oak Barrels are taken from the distillery, by forklift, across the parking lot to the Brewery where they are filled with Dead Guy Ale and matured for three months.

Each John John product will be a limited release, starting with John John Dead Guy Ale, followed by the John John Juniper Pale Ale, Rogue’s Juniper Pale Ale matured in Rogue Spruce Gin barrels, and the John John Hazelnut Brown Nectar, maturing Rogue’s Hazelnut Brown Nectar in Rogue’s Hazelnut Spiced Rum barrels.

John John Dead Guy Ale will be available on draft and in 22oz bottles at select retailers in January 2010.

Photos from the Surly Goat

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If you are a craft beer lover and you live in Los Angeles, get your taste buds to the Surly Goat.
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If you are a fan of the Verdugo, then you will love the Surly Goat.
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Why such high praise? Because the beer list is great, the bottle list is great and they care about educating the consumer and have knowledgeable staff.

The York + Firestone/Walker =

where you need to be next week.

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Here are the details:
“The incomparable Highland Park gastropub, The York will be hosting the second of what what will surely be a series of beer dinners on February 24th… with Firestone Walker Brewing Company!

Chef/bon vivant/all around good guy, Dimitri, will be announcing the full menu next week, but look for 5 courses, each paired with 5-6 oz. of Firestone’s beers. Beers lines up include Velvet Merkin, Union Jack and more…

The cost is $40 and includes all the food and beer.”

Jace from Firestone will be there to talk beer with the locals, and giving away some swag for the raffle.

Reservations available by calling (323) 255-9675 or mary@theyorkonyork.com.