Quaffing heavenly Trappist brews

Trappist monks devout their entire life to the service of God and abandon all their possessions, making a vow of poverty, while splitting their time between prayer, charity, and manual work - that for some, include beer. Monks have always lived self sufficient - cultivating the land, making their own bread, butter, and cheese and in the northern European countries brewing their own beer. The monasteries are a place of study where monks have time to hone in the art of beer and cheese making - it was only until recent did the abbeys install ultra modern technologies to the service the monks' long brewing tradition.

These Trappist workers produce a few styles all of which are what brewers call ''bottle conditioned,'' meaning that a small dose of sugar and yeast is added to each bottle just before it is sealed. Of the 171 Trappist monestaries only 7 today produce beer (Achel, Chimay, Koningshoeven, Orval, Rochefort, Westmalle, & Westvleteren) - and of these 7 only 3 are available in Texas: Chimay, Orval, and Westmalle.

The most exclusive and rare of all Trappist breweries is the Brouwerij Westvleteren from the St. Sixtus Abbey (pictured), in the West Flanders region of Belgium, who produce a beer Abt 12 that many consider to be the world's best beer. The Westy bottlehas no label but sometimes has an embossed collar on the neck.

The cap helps distinguish Westys. This beer alone has created a black market because of the ultra limited supply/distribution, insane demand, all coupled with the Monk's strict moral code that 'the beer is not to be commercialized.' In order to buy this beer, one must first place an order weeks in advance, travel to the St. Sixtus Abbey's drive up service station - typically waiting in very long lines, and finally are rationed out only a few cases per vehicle. The price of a case (4 six-packs) at the abbey typically run $48 but I have seen a single six pack on eBay run $170. Expensive? Well, yes - but remember, it is typically only the globetrotting millionaire who can afford one bottle of some of the world's best wine, which can start in the upper hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. I've seen friends and family not blink to a bottle of simple Dom Perignon (by the way who was a French monk) for $200+.I traded for the above pictured Westy 12s through BeerAdvocate.com. This is a wonderful way to get beers that you cannot get and to allow others to try local favorites that you are more easily able to acquire.

Mark polishing off a 6 year old Westvletern 12 that he was gracious enough to allow me to sample.









Orval Trappist Ale
The Notre-Dame d'Orval / Brasserie d’Orval S.A.
Villers-devant-Orval, Belgium
Orval.be

Appearance: 4.5
Smell: 4
Taste: 3
Mouthfeel: 4
Drinkability: 3
Overall = 3.6

Of all the Trappist brews, Orval is the oldest, founded in the 11th century by Benedictine monks. This brew stands unique from all the other Trappist ales because of a specific yeast strain, Brettanomyces (Brett) that lends quite a funky sourness to the brew

Pours extremely hazed orange-copper, with a fluffy head letting convoluted aromas of rose hips, chamomile, granny smith apple, leather, and burlap sack. Flavors of wet hay, orange blossom water, lemongrass, petals, some wood, and a slice of hop bitterness towards the back – accumulating to a lingering body and light carbonation.
Orval can challenge the craft beer neophyte, but guarantees to remain etched in your memory as one of the most unique experiences one can have with brew.

Style: Trappist Belgian Pale Ale
Alcohol By Volume : 6.90%
Availability : Year Round
Sample Size: 330ml brown bottle
Pairings: Cheese: Edam
Cuisine: pork chops with roasted Brussels sprouts
Glassware: Chalice, Tulip
Average Price: $4.69 each

Westmalle Trappist Tripel
Brouwerij Westmalle
Malle, Belgium
Trappistwestmalle.be

Appearance: 4.5
Smell: 5
Taste: 4.5
Mouthfeel: 4.5
Drinkability: 4.5
Overall = 4.6

Hazy orange color with frothy foam that falls to a beautiful lace. Nose is orange slice jelly candy, lemon zest, pear flesh, grass, and pink peppercorn. There’s a nice yeast spice, green apple, vanilla on the palate along with an open airy carbonation. Westmalle Triple is a very complex beer and as it warms brings a breadiness, pepper again, herbal notes, then the treasured candied sugar - crisp finish. Ultimately, a world-class beverage.

Style: Tripel
Alcohol By Volume : 9.50% Availability : Year Round
Sample Size: 750ml corked & caged brown bottle with gold aluminum wrap
Pairings: Cheese: Limburger
Cuisine: eggs benedict & steamed asparagus with hollandaise / fresh mixed fruit
Glassware: Chalice, Snifter
Average Price: $11.99 each

Nor Red or White - barleywine's brawny aristocracy

It was only until recently that I have come to treasure the intense and colorful depths of barley wine (barleywine). Despite its name, barley wine is no doubt a beer, albeit, a very brawny style, originally made by the English aristocracy who designed it to age, some up to 20 years. It did not arrive to the general public until around the late 1800s because it was much too expensive for a brewery to produce on a commercial scale.

Many English brewers had quite the affinity towards French vintners and this led them to create a style of strong ale, so named because many versions had a high alcohol content comparable to wines (8%-14%) of the same period. What transpired was a beverage that featured a big malt, fruity character with a sugary backdrop that warms like a fine sherry or tawny port. Garrett Oliver, brewmaster of Brooklyn Brewery describes the aroma of a 1992 Thomas Hardy (pictured is a 2007 & 1986) as "so beautiful that it makes me want to cry. It contains universes." Stumped for words at the moment, Oliver reaches for comparisons to ‘oranges, raisins, plums, wildflowers, basil, old leather, freshly chopped wood, fallen leaves, black truffles.’ Unfortunately, there is not a single English imported barley wine available in Texas.

With the rise of American brewing ingenuity, barley wine has taken on new heights with a much stronger hop addition than its English counterpart. Adding more hops during the boil of brewing lends more bitterness and aroma when fresh and a deeper tropical fruit character when aged; I prefer most American barley wine fresh. Richly aged barley wines are a perfect accompaniment for Stilton blue cheese, while fresh, hoppy barely wines can compliment with the sharpness of a farmhouse Cheddar. Beer and cheese is simply the better pairing – forget about wine, unless it’s a barley wine.

Hog Heaven Avery Brewing Company
Boulder, Colorado
averybrewing.com

Appearance: 4.5
Smell: 4
Taste: 2.5
Mouthfeel: 2.5
Drinkability: 4
Overall = 3.35

Pours garnet with dark brown hues and a frothy crown of ecru foam. Fragrances of grapefruit, spearmint, caramel, woody spice, dried orange peel, and juniper berry round the aroma. As the brew warms it releases a pungent, astringent aroma of orange hand soap (GOJO and Fast Orange come to mind), quite awkward and unpleasant. A surprisingly flat taste hits the palate with not much more than light caramel, a nice balanced hop bitterness, and some faint soy sauce in the far depths. This finishes thin, watery and almost bone dry, the fine carbonation holds it together. At times, this brew can be dangerously drinkable because the alcohol sits in the back, undetected. Not quite what I expected from one of my favorite Colorado brewers.

Style: American Barley wine
Alcohol By Volume: 9.25%
Availability : Year Round
Sample Size: 22oz. brown bottle
Pairings: Cheese: Limburger
Cuisine: Cherry Tart, digestive
Glassware: Snifter, Pint
Average Price: $6.49 each


Bigfoot 2009
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Chico, California
SierraNevada.com

Appearance: 5
Smell: 4.5
Taste: 4.5
Mouthfeel: 4.5
Drinkability: 3.5
Overall = 4.5

Amber waves of grain adorn the engaging ruby hued brew with a crown of tan foam. Sugar cookie, caramel, bitter lemon and grapefruit, with intense pine oil hop profile blankets the nose. The taste is very strong of malt then slips into a lip-smacking juicy hoppiness, with citrus rind and a medium dry feel on the palate. When it warms, there is some rum, fruit cake, raisins, and honey in the aroma. After a few sips, the sticky lace clings to the glass beautifully. Bigfoot could age beautifully for 2-5 years, but why wait - grab it now and save a couple for later. I really love this beer!

Style: American Barley wine
Alcohol By Volume: 9.60%
Availability : Limited, yearly special release
Sample Size: 12oz. brown bottle
Pairings: Cheese: sharp aged Cheddar
Cuisine: Cheesecake, chocolate mousse and raspberries
Glassware: Snifter, Pint
Average Price: $11 six-pack

Foam For The Holidays

Peeking up from a Christmas dinner prayer, I glance around the long table where family and friends have their heads intently bowed, eyes closed - each accompanied by a bounty of food and drink.

Muted colors of informally portioned food: Candied pecan yams, squash soup, peppered cranberry turkey, cinnamon spiral ham, cornbread dressing, and fresh snap green beans, all pop with color when placed on the white China. Resting at both ends of the table are two carafes of wine that play only a small part in the beverage vehicles that await each guest. Yet, with five to seven other drink offerings... no beer. How did this happen? Where did beer get lost in the mix of forgetful gifts that many perceive as unseeingly gracious and unflattering as fruitcake?

Reflecting, ‘I will not let this happen next year,’ I conjure how one could impress and wow a dinner table with new conversation, but without the pretentious perception of expensive wine. Bring beer!

Beer also has its ostentatious crusaders. I meet too many self-proclaimed, ‘beer snobs.’ This moniker alone is averse to spreading the goodwill of good beer. Do not be a beer snob, as it will only intimidate potential brew advocates and not allow them the open-mindedness to simply have fun. That being said, beer deserves respect at the dinner table. During the holidays, people expect to try an abundance of items that in turn gives you a great opportunity to show your peers how to move beyond the wine list. Connect food with beer and create memories your guests may never forget.

When guests arrive, open up conversation without a palate overkill with lighter brews like Victory Prima Pils or Sam Adams Boston Lager. Next, pair up salads and cheeses with pale ales like Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Saint Arnold Elissa India Pale Ale, or Dogfish Head 60 minute.

Moving to dinner, think of beer as being the best thing to drink because wine in many cases is too acidic. Think of brew having 3 C’s - It cuts fat and starches with it’s carbonation which literally scrubs your tongue and opens up the next bite. Beer also compliments many flavors like sweet, citrus sour, smoky, and then can contrast like bitter, salty, and sweet. With dinner try substituting wine for brew...or at least have it available. Replace a bright chardonnay or white with a Farmhouse Saison like Dupont or my favorite, Ommegang Hennepin which yields great carbonation and an earthy, citrus flavor profile to go well with turkey and cranberries or candied yams. Other Belgian style beers like strong dark ales, dubbles, and quadruples like Chimay Red and Blue or the reviewed St. Bernardus Abt 12 can help lift foods like roasted pork loin, spiral ham, and stuffing.

So what for dessert? Brownies, truffles, chocolate, and ice cream can all go well with brews like Lindemans Framboise or Kriek (raspberry or cherry beer) or especially darker stouts like Young’s Double Chocolate Stout or Bear Republic Big Bear Black Stout.

Finally, don’t forget about seasonal beer. Try Shiner Holiday Cheer, that is brewed with pecans and Stonewall Peaches or my winter favorite, Anchor Our Special Christmas Ale.

In addition to the fantastic pairings of beer and food, all the brews suggested are crafted suitably outside as well as inside to offer attractive table appearance, some of which are corked and caged like a Champagne bottle.

Be the considerate gourmand at your next holiday dinner or party in which beer can be your way to revitalize the bountifulness this season.

I am available to guide beer pairing parties, be it with cheese, hors d’oeuvres/tapas, BBQ, chocolate, or even a full 5-7 course dinner. BrandonEast@gmail.com

Cheers and Happy Holidays!


St. Bernardus Abt 12
Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV
Watou, Belgium
SintBernardus.be

St. Bernardus Abt 12 is a Quadruple that reigns from Belgium and is brewed by Trappist monks in the small region of Flanders. Much of the proceeds from the beer are collected to sustain their livelihood and local charities.

Color is dark pomegranate and brown hues with unbleached linen color foam that dissipates rather swiftly but leaves a wonderful ring. Caramel malt, apple, plum, and sugary molasses dance in the aroma. Sipping the brew brings a lace of candi (rock) sugar to the lips while pear, caramel, dark fruit, cinnamon, and a slight bitterness to the palate.

Some prefer to have Abt 12 after a meal or with a cigar but I think with such a developed and complex flavor profile and carbonation this would also be perfect for those hearty and savory dishes we have come to love this holiday season. Instead of Champagne at New Years Eve, bring St. Bernardus Abt 12. Seriously, $10 is remarkable for one of the world’s best brews - do yourself a favor, buy it now.

Appearance: 4
Smell: 4.5
Taste: 5
Mouthfeel: 5
Drinkability: 5
Overall = 4.7

Style: Quadrupel (Quad)
Alcohol By Volume : 10.50%
Availability : Year Round
Sample Size: 750ml brown bottle
Pairings: Cheese: Brie, Gouda
Cuisine: Smoked ham, roasted pork loin with apples
Glassware: Oversized red wine glass, snifter, goblet
Price: $9.99 each


Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Chico, California
SierraNevada.com

I have a soft spot for Sierra Nevada Pale Ale as it was the first real beer experience that opened my senses to something completely new. What I remember was that it lasted like grass and piney bitterness, yet sweet and...I wanted more.

Pours golden amber with a tight beige head that falls to a nice lace. Nose is pine with biscuty malt then follows to a slight citrus. Hops are spicy, fruity, and floral while the Cascade bitterness lasts throughout the tasting to the back of the throat with easy carbonation. So many flavors in this brew and is so drinkable.

Local bars and restaurants listen up - get this in your beer portfolio now and replace one of those seven macro lagers with this instant classic! Why is this only available at two local bars/restaurants?

Appearance: 4
Smell: 4
Taste: 4.5
Mouthfeel: 4
Drinkability: 5
Overall = 4.3

Style: American Pale Ale
Alcohol By Volume : 5.60%
Availability: Year Round
Sample Size: 12 oz. brown bottle
Pairings: Cheese: Cheddar, Fontina, Parmesan
Cuisine: salad, grilled steak or chicken
Glassware: pint glass
Price: $7.99 six pack

Tailgating at Ole Miss

Walking into the campus of the University of Mississippi with a cooler in tow awaits a tailgating experience of renowned acclaim - the Grove. Sitting in the middle of campus is a 10-acre oak forest that is the canvas for the nation’s crown jewel of tailgating.

Here in the vast landscape of tents and toddies, initiates autumn’s unmistakable crisp air and College Football season. Fried chicken, BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, and deviled eggs are Southern staples that must be accompanied by libations as Bloody Marys, mimosas, bourbon, and definitely some mixed brew.

So what brew to drink? Typically, before visiting a town that I’ll be staying in for a few days I will search online for unique restaurants (dine.com) and local breweries or brewpubs (beeradvocate.com/beerfly). I planed ahead and bought a few mixed 6-packs at Miller’s Liquor and some seasonal brew at Spec’s. This allowed those who wanted beer at the game to sample something different but enjoyable - leaving room for local beer if any could be found.

The void in the cooler was filled with a local brewery, Lazy Magnolia that makes an amazing ‘Southern Pecan’ Brown Ale. Also, in the mix was a darker seasonal brew, ‘Autumn Ale’ created by Breckenridge Brewing Company. Darker ales are perfect companions to the brisk fall days that have changed from the blonde ales of summer to heartier and deeper brews like porters and brown ales.

My top picks for local brew to add to your next tailgate cooler:
Austin - Real Ale, Live Oak (growlers), Independence
Baton Rouge- Abita
College Station - Southern Star
Dallas/Ft.Worth - Rahr & Sons
Houston - Saint Arnold’s
Lubbock - Triple J Chophouse (growlers)
Beaumont - Gulf Coast Brewing Co. (soon!)

In addition to local brews try these fall picks: Abita’s ‘Pecan Harvest’, Paulaner Oktoberfest—Märzen’, Dogfish Head ‘Punkin', Rogue Chocolate Stout

Beaumont was represented well at the Grove and many stayed to watch the Ole Miss & University of South Carolina game on pay-per-view and listen to the live band that was playing at the tent. Although Ole Miss lost the football game - the party still continued till the evening. Christy & Mike Persia III conduct impeccable entertaining, helping to remind all that the Grove is first-and-foremost a haven to let loose and enjoy the camaraderie of friends and family. Cheers!



Southern Pecan
Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company
Kiln, Mississippi
LazyMagnolia.com

Pours medium to pale caramel color with garnet highlights and displays a tan crown that dissipates quickly. Pleasantly sweet aroma of roasted nuttiness and a soft fruitiness. Rustic bread crust, roasted pecans, maple syrup, and light caramel along with balanced hop bitterness help round out the flavor profile. Not much carbonation and a medium bodied mouthfeel. An outstanding ale that is amazingly drinkable. When in Oxford, Mississippi, head to Murff’s and get a pint of this brew with a Muff Burger and fried egg.

Appearance: 3
Smell: 4
Taste: 4
Mouthfeel: 3.5
Drinkability: 4.5
Overall = 3.8

Style: English/American Style Brown Ale
Alcohol By Volume : 4.02%
Availability : Year Round
Sample Size: 12oz. brown bottle

Pairings: Cheese: Camebert, Fontina
Cuisine: BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Glassware: Pint glass
Price: $7.99 six-pack


Autumn Ale
Breckenridge Brewing & BBQ
Denver, Colorado
Breckbrew.com

Deep dark brown that is translucent to opaque with ruby highlights that holds a tan ecru head then sticks around with sticky lacing. Nose is molasses and chocolate malt with a subtle nuttiness. Taste is a bit complex of toasted almonds and dark fruits like sugar plums and raisins which yields an alcohol warmth and low carbonation perfect for cozy, crisp evenings. I suggest this brew as a digestif - don’t let this beer be the only one for the evening as it is not sessional, leaving lackluster and wanting to quaff something less heavy.

Appearance: 3.5
Smell: 3.5
Taste: 4
Mouthfeel: 3.5
Drinkability: 2.5
Overall = 3.6

Style: Old Ale
Alcohol By Volume : 6.70%
Availability : Fall Seasonal
Sample Size: 12 oz. brown bottle

Pairings: Cheese: Gouda, Havarti
Cuisine: Digestif
Glassware: Pint Glass or Snifter
Price: $7.99 six pack

Hoppy Ending / October Brew Review

Is any beer hoppy enough? Hops are the brilliant flowering cones and a cousin of the cannabis plant (sorry, no THC in these crops) that lend much of the beer’s aroma, flavor, and bittering properties which derive from the hop’s resin and oil. Hops are the age-old seasoning of the beer, the natural warriors who fight spoilage from wild bacteria, act as a preservative, and bring balance to the sweetness from malt. They also help create head/foam retention that pleases the palate by imparting its unique characters and flavors. Basically, hops put the ‘bite’ in beer.

American brewers are creating many ‘extreme’ brews to celebrate the intoxicating character of hops and playing a game of ‘one up’ to challenge beer perception and ultimately redefining consumers tastes. As a brew advocate and self proclaimed ‘hophead,’ I like finding the harmony in chaos. Any brewer can pitch in loads of hops into their beer, but how does it play with the other ingredients?

Our tongue and brain are imbedded initially not to like or appreciate bitter flavors – in a plant’s defense, bitterness is nature’s way of saying ‘don’t eat me.’ The International Bitterness Unit (IBU) scale is roughly used to gauge bitterness – a typical American Light Lager has around 10 IBUs, and below you will see an American Double India Pale Ale at 101 IBUs!

Early autumn in America brings a new hop harvest, typically picked from the Northwest regions like Oregon and Washington. Unfortunately, we have a crisis on our hands; American and European hop supplies are dwindling and craft beer demand is skyrocketing. A warehouse fire that held 4% of the year’s US crop, energy prices, and ruinous weather in Europe furthered the hop shortage. Many small, craft brewers are scrambling to find the hops for their recipes, while much larger producers, like Anheuser-Busch/ InBev & MillerCoors, aren’t as affected because they have long-term contracts with hop growers.

To this, drink what you like and remember that beer is still one of the best affordable luxuries. You can go to the store with $10 and come out with a six-pack of a world-class beer – try doing that with a world-class wine.



HopDevil Ale
Victory Brewing Co.
Downingtown, PA
victorybeer.com

The Devil pours reddish with persimmon highlights and displays rocky foam crowning the lip. The aroma of fresh hops sits to the back while more grain and malt are mostly present - the fresher the brew the more revealing hop aroma. This brown bottle has an ‘Enjoy By’ date of October 22, 2008 that could explain the underwhelming aroma. The taste is absolutely perfect – caramel malt and piney/grapefruit hops whisk together then slide to a trailing bitterness that devilishly taunts repetition. This ale is silky, somewhat dry, and completely exquisite.


Appearance: 4.5
Smell: 3.5
Taste: 5
Mouthfeel: 4
Drinkability: 5
Overall = 4.5


Style: American IPA (India Pale Ale)
Alcohol By Volume : 6.70%
International Bitterness Units: about 55
Availability: Year Round
Sample Size: 12oz. brown bottle

Pairings
Cheese: Gorgonzola, Limburger
Cuisine: Thai, Spicy Indian
Glassware: Pint glass
Price: $7.99 six-pack


Green Flash Imperial India Pale Ale
Green Flash Brewing Co.
San Diego, California
greenflashbrew.com

The golden ale kissed with garnet highlights releases a complex and masterful aroma of spruce, pineapple, cannabis, green grapes, and onions. The hop flavor on this beer is magnificent and somewhat unbalanced – in that the flavor lends intensity to the bitterness with a malt background screaming for attention. Pure freshness and masterful complexity where it counts. Crisp edges and medium carbonation gives a dry yet smooth mouthfeel. At 101 IBUs, I was expecting a bit more flavor bitterness throughout the finish but the aroma flags abrupt caution.

Appearance: 4
Smell: 5
Taste: 4.5
Mouthfeel: 3.5
Drinkability: 4
Overall = 4.35

Style: American Double IPA (India Pale Ale)
Alcohol By Volume: 9%
International Bitterness Units: 101
Availability : Year Round
Sample Size: 22 oz. brown bomber

Pairings:
Cheese: Pungent blue, razor sharp cheddar
Cuisine: Grilled Meat
Glassware: Pint Glass
Price: $6.15 bottle

July Brew Review / Texas Pale Ales

Texas Pale Ales

This month we stay local and explore two brews crafted right around Southeast Texas. First we visit the new and out of the chute, Southern Star Brewing Company from Conroe to taste their craft-canned Pine Belt American Pale Ale. Next, we’ll sample an American IPA (India Pale Ale) from the well established and Texas favorite, Saint Arnold Brewing Company of Houston.


Pine Belt Pale Ale
Southern Star Brewing Company
Conroe, Texas
southernstarbrewing.com

Slightly hazy-copper color with a light beige meringue head that has good staying power. Syrupy grapefruit and fresh, floral pine oil control the nose along with some slight toasted malt. The body is medium with a fine carbonation, giving a zesty mouthfeel that becomes creamy as it warms. Fresh cut grass and the oily Columbus hop character quickly take over the palate to provide a clean bite of citric, grapefruit character and with juicy fruit gum, which yields a crisp fresh taste. Malty undertones of crust and caramel help to balance Pine Belt’s flavor while the hop bitterness progressively increases and loiters on the tongue after each sip. I found this local gem at Spec’s in Houston and I look forward to when this beer is available in Beaumont.

Appearance: 4.5
Smell: 4
Taste: 4.5
Mouthfeel: 4
Drinkability: 5
Overall = 4.4

Style: American Pale Ale (APA)
Alcohol By Volume : ?
Availability: Year Round

Sample Size: 16oz. can
Pairings:
Cheese: Camembert, Fontina,
Cuisine: grilled lemongrass chicken & vermicelli / see below for marinade.
Glassware: pint glass
Price: $6.49 / four-pack



Elissa IPA
Saint Arnold Brewing Company
Houston, Texas
saintarnold.com

Pours transparent copper-orange with a nominal, light ecru head that dissipates quickly and leaves a faint collar. Cascade hops dominate the aroma’s foreground with some caramel to the back. The taste surprisingly balances with sweet malt caramel and biscuity flavors then finishes with a middling hop presence that is citrus and pine that fades quickly leaving a lingering bitterness. The malt is not sticky or overly sweet; it is simply the dominant flavor. Smooth bodied with medium carbonation lend a dry finish.

Appearance: 3.5
Smell: 4
Taste: 3.5
Mouthfeel: 4
Drinkability: 4
Overall = 3.7

Style: American IPA (India Pale Ale)
Alcohol By Volume : 6.60%

Availability : Year Round
Sample Size: 12oz. bottle
Pairings:
Cheese: Limburger
Cuisine: vegetarian Indian dishes, spicy chicken Pad Thai,
Glassware: pint glass
Price: $7.99 / six-pack

_______________________________

The difference between an American Pale Ale an a American IPA (India Pale Ale) is that when IPAs were transported from Britain to the British colony of India, these brews would require more hops to be used as a preservative to make it through a four-month sea journey. In turn these IPAs acquired a deeper color and a more bitterness from the hops. American brewers who brew IPAs try to replicate the British IPA using American ingredients. Saint Arnold Brewing Company donates a percentage of the proceeds of from Elissa IPA to the Galveston Historical District for the preservation of the brew’s namesake; a tall moored ship similar to those commerce vessels that transported India Pale Ales from Britain to India.

American Pale Ales like Southern Star’s Pine Belt are quite popular and are an adaptation of English pale ales to reflect local ingredients native to America, often without heavy hopping and a less caramel flavor than their English counterparts. Southern Star’s Co-founders Dave Fougeron and Brian Hutchins began production of their first signature brew in March of this year from their 10,000 foot warehouse in Conroe. Southern Star Brewing Company is the one of the only microbreweries in the state of Texas to package their craft beer in a can.

_______________________________

Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons fish sauce
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tablespoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast/thigh, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
3 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons cooking oil
2 fresh lemongrass stalks, tender inner white bulbs only, minced
1 large shallot, thinly sliced
3 chilies, seeded and minced
1 scallion for garnishing

Method:

In a bowl, combine the fish sauce, garlic, curry powder, salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of the sugar. Add the chicken meat to coat.

In a small skillet, mix the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar with 1 tablespoon of the water and cook over high heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Cook without stirring until a deep amber caramel forms. Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of water. Transfer to a bowl.

Heat a wok over high heat. Add the oil and heat until shimmering. Add the lemongrass, shallot, and chilies and stir-fry until fragrant. Add the chicken and caramel and stir-fry until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is slightly thickened. Transfer to a bowl and top with the scallion. Serve with steamed white rice.

June Brew Review / Tasty Sojourn

Weihenstephaner HefeWeissbier
Brauerei Weihenstephan
Freising, Germany
brauerei-weihenstephan.de

The dark mustard hazy color hefe displays capacious pillowy foam. Aroma of banana, lemon, vanilla, and spice along with light malts and a little whiff of hops. Flavor hits with a very solid creamy wheat taste – banana and lemon again, clove, cracker, delicate hops and extremely slight bubblegum. Nicely carbonated mouthfeel with a fine pepper tinge. Please refrain from garnishing with a lemon or orange, as it will mask some of the greatness actually in this beer.

Appearance: 4
Smell: 4.5
Taste: 4
Mouthfeel: 4.5
Drinkability: 4.5
Overall = 4.2

Style: Hefeweizen
Alcohol By Volume : 5.40%
Availability : Year Round
Sample Size: 12oz. bottle
Pairings:
Cheese: Edam, Feta
Cuisine: Weisswurst (white sausage), Sushi
Glassware: Weizen glass
Price: $7.99 six pack


Skinny Dip
New Belgium Brewing Inc.
Fort Collins, Colorado
newbelgium.com

Skinny Dip is a replacement and retuned recipe of New Belgium’s retired brew, Loft. Pours a clear light copper color with an ample head. Aroma is biscuity cookie and very malty with a minute hop presence. Flavor notes of kaffir lime and cascade hops sit to the back while the malt dominates. The mouthfeel is similar in fashion to Fat Tire as it begins with sweetness and is then topped with light to moderate carbonation.
Skinny Dip is a exceptional session brew that is not only refreshing, but is perfect for those looking for the ‘figure-friendly’ alternative to those light or ultra beers this summer. If anyone cares, Skinny Dip is only 114 calories per 12oz serving.

Appearance: 3.5
Smell: 4
Taste: 4.5
Mouthfeel: 3.5
Drinkability: 4.5
Overall = 4.1

Style: American Blonde Ale
Alcohol By Volume : 4.20%
Availability : Spring & Summer Release
Sample Size: 12 oz. brown bottle
Pairings:
Cheese: Monterey Pepper Jack, Havarti
Cuisine: Salad, Seafood, Quiche
Glassware: Pint glass
Price: $7.99 six pack


Weihenstephan, founded 1040 AD is the oldest established brewery and have created an amazing benchmark of the Hefeweizen style. To break it down, Hefe- yeast and Weizen- wheat, typically referes to an unfiltered wheat ale that has yeast added for natural, bottle-conditioning. If you enjoyed the Weihenstephaner please try the “Holy Grail” for Hefeweizen from Austin’s Live Oak brewery. They do not bottle but you can find the beer on tap at a few different bars in Houston, Austin, and around Texas (not yet Beaumont).

April Brew Review

Shiner 99 / Munich Helles Lager

Spoetzl Brewery / Shiner, Texas / shiner.com

Pours a bright, clear, straw color with ample suds. Smells of grain malts and a very faint sweetness/honey and spice coming through from the Hallertau hops. Taste of forward leaning malt with hops that lean to the back. Light-medium mouthfeel with calm carbonation and average drinkability for a Munich lager. A common representation of the style that pays tribute to Shiner's rich German tradition and heritage. Bring some to your next crawfish boil (see picture below.)

appearance: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | mouthfeel: 3.5 | drinkability: 4
3.75 overall

Style: Munich Helles Lager
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 5.0%
Availability: limited release
Sample Size: 12oz brown bottle

Pairings:
cheese: Havarti, Brie
cuisine: spicy crawfish, fried oyster po-boy

glassware: flute or Pilsner glass
price: $6.99 6/pack

Allagash Tripel Reserve

Allagash Brewing Company / Portland, Maine / allagash.com

Bottle is corked and caged with a #68 batch stamp. Brew streams into the goblet translucent golden-orange with a frothy dense head. Extremely convoluted aroma of spices like cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, with hints of banana. Taste brings rich flavors of candi sugar, caramel, banana, clove, and a tad bit of citrus tartness with light pepper. Carbonation pops in the mouth and levels out with some alcohol warmth. Fruity sweet and dry finish that is quite drinkable. One of the best, if not the best Tripel brewed in the United States. Try drinking Allagash Tripel as an aperitif with the suggested parings, with a dessert, or especially excellent on its own as a digestif.

appearance: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | mouthfeel: 4.5 | drinkability: 4
4.55 overall

Style: Tripel
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 9.0%
Availability: year-round
Sample Size: 750ml corked and caged bottle

Pairings:
cheese: Stilton, Roquefort, Feta
cuisine: Greek salad, asparagus, lemon squares

glassware: goblet, snifter
price : $9.25 bottle

Style Profile:

In 2005, five years from their Centennial Anniversary, Shiner began brewing an annual series of limited edition, commemorative brews, tipping a hat to their rich German roots. Shiner kicked things off with their 96 Märzen-Style Ale followed by 97 Black Lager (Schwarzbier), then 98 Bavarian-Style Amber and now Shiner's 99 Munich-Style Helles Lager. Click here for more info on Shiner's Anniversary Brews.

Tripel is a strong blonde/pale ale originally created and popularized in 1934 by the Belgian Trappist monastery at Westmalle. Allagash stands out as one of the best breweries in America with an anchored portfolio of Beligian inspired style beers such as White and Dubbel, while some brews are barrel-aged in bourbon soaked oak. All Allagash beers are always bottle-conditioned, meaning that they are not pasteuized and they contain live yeast to being a new process of fermentation.

Below is a video from Allagash brewing company. They are in process of creating one of America's first spontaneous fermented beers, which are also called Lambics and are made from wild yeast and aged hops. After fermentation the Lambic will age in French oak and possibly be added with fruit and should be ready in 2009.

http://allagash.com/news_cool_ship.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD_49kfVJeE