tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31941234519424490962024-03-14T04:27:45.056-04:00Brew JerseyExploring the finer points of beer culture, brewing, tasting, and food pairingBrew Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13694356776842369504noreply@blogger.comBlogger277125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194123451942449096.post-36389062766849616042011-09-12T23:23:00.000-04:002011-09-22T17:42:09.378-04:00Craft Beer Calendar<iframe frameborder="0" height="504" scrolling="no" src="https://www.google.com/calendar/b/0/embed?mode=AGENDA&height=504&wkst=1&bgcolor=%23ffffcc&src=gkhhpi298v2donrsj08c75euck%40group.calendar.google.com&color=%23182C57&ctz=America%2FNew_York" style="border: 1px solid rgb(119, 119, 119);" width="586"></iframe>Brew Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13694356776842369504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194123451942449096.post-12411658214470443322011-09-11T21:23:00.002-04:002011-09-11T21:23:27.424-04:00Flying Fish Abbey Dubbel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZbmj7TSQttuRIEDkq086Adbkhc7uYTLSCa4Dd4zSXObvrbESyRMxVfKO-IsJ_pC_CYF9ykqrBKIqBQjUydBZ79yWmQEt66fyIqNgyEWtiJNC1pQSETSr-Trzs5QWjEAByclnGwVlwRgJ/s1600/dubbel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZbmj7TSQttuRIEDkq086Adbkhc7uYTLSCa4Dd4zSXObvrbESyRMxVfKO-IsJ_pC_CYF9ykqrBKIqBQjUydBZ79yWmQEt66fyIqNgyEWtiJNC1pQSETSr-Trzs5QWjEAByclnGwVlwRgJ/s320/dubbel.jpg" width="105" /></a></div>
<b style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"></span>Reviewed By: </b>Rick S.<br />
<b style="color: red;">Style:</b> Dubbel<br />
<b style="color: red;">State/Country:</b> New Jersey<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">ABV:</span> </span>7%<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Serving Type:</span> 12oz Bottle<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Look:</span> 8.5<br />
Reddish brown color, clear, with a thin tan head and decent lacing. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Smell:</span> 8.5<br />
Mild aroma consisting of cherries, dark fruit, brown sugar, and spice<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Taste:</span><span style="color: red;"> </span>9<br />
Taste is much more pronounced than the aroma! Very complex as well.
Lots of spice with some hops up front. followed by a malt, cherry,
raisin, and finishing with malt and a mild nutty flavor.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Mouthfeel:</span> 9<br />
Medium body and carbonation, and a dry finish<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Drinkability</span><span style="color: red;">:</span> 9<br />Dangerously easy to drink! <br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">Overall Score:</span> </span>8.8<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;"><br />Value: </span></span>10+<br />
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.42 <br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Overall Impression:</span><br />
I LOVE this beer! While it may not rival the best Dubbels brewed in
Belgium, and it may not even be the best Dubbel brewed in America, it IS
unquestionably the best one pound for pound...or should I say for the
money. To my knowledge, there is no other Dubbel anywhere near this
level of quality on the market priced at only $7.99/six pack. And price
aside, it more than holds its own in this category. Having said all of
that, Belgian Abbey Dubbel is easily the best "year-round" offering
from Flying Fish in my opinion!Brew Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13694356776842369504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194123451942449096.post-19745134033695998182011-09-11T21:20:00.000-04:002011-09-11T21:43:26.735-04:00Flying Fish ESB Ale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgx5F2OwU9e25TRPC99nS4ZEm4eswW1RkBhkmtRL_tLAVtqxgVMRj1xrZan5hJLg3GAQIU06eWbe-na_7iIzGP_1ucPLAK6U69wm9oaFoP1KwmpErvYY9JuzxBbd-eT65x67wXsqwNKk_W/s1600/esb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgx5F2OwU9e25TRPC99nS4ZEm4eswW1RkBhkmtRL_tLAVtqxgVMRj1xrZan5hJLg3GAQIU06eWbe-na_7iIzGP_1ucPLAK6U69wm9oaFoP1KwmpErvYY9JuzxBbd-eT65x67wXsqwNKk_W/s320/esb.jpg" width="119" /></a></div>
<b></b><b style="color: red;">Reviewed By: </b>Rick S.<br />
<b style="color: red;">Style:</b> Extra Special Bitter<br />
<b style="color: red;">State/Country:</b> New Jersey<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">ABV:</span> </span>5.5%<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Serving Type:</span> 12oz Bottle<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Look:</span> 8<br />
Medium amber color, clear, with a foamy off-white head and decent lacing <br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Smell:</span> 8<br />
Sweet malt, caramel, subtle fruit, and earthy hops <br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Taste:</span><span style="color: red;"> </span>8.5<br />
Caramel and complex malt flavors, balanced nicely by earthy hops<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Mouthfeel:</span> 8<br />
Medium body and carbonation, and a creamy finish<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Drinkability</span><span style="color: red;">:</span> 8.5<br />
Very Smooth! <br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">Overall Score:</span> </span>8.2<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;"><br />Value: </span></span>9.5<br />
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.42 <br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Overall Impression:</span><br />
I think part of the reason this beer does not receive as much credit as
it deserves has to do with its classification. Is it an American Amber
Ale, or is it an English-style Extra Special Bitter? Many of the
reviews I have seen regard it as an American Amber, and as such, it has
fallen a bit short. But to me, this is clearly an ESB (the malt, hops
and ale strain used are a dead giveaway people), and a good one at
that! This ESB is really easy to drink and it is fantastic with grilled and broiled food, or any type
of food where caramelization is happening. Brew Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13694356776842369504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194123451942449096.post-80611696078086184062011-08-30T06:20:00.001-04:002011-09-11T21:38:12.974-04:00Iron Fish 8/27/11<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVahHBR09Z1T-ozsuarg-UfUDFgjyq97gkVn9FmEkxYaIkmVYX5OjIflU9r88qnnCXZ4ANXEyU9R7NViCQTnRHPGv-bIhLp7p8qQ8Cak1-6URUSvhuSAd481vtHAkH4Df8fMxSzpXl3O2U/s1600/320532_262208047137622_100000452866653_950298_7320631_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVahHBR09Z1T-ozsuarg-UfUDFgjyq97gkVn9FmEkxYaIkmVYX5OjIflU9r88qnnCXZ4ANXEyU9R7NViCQTnRHPGv-bIhLp7p8qQ8Cak1-6URUSvhuSAd481vtHAkH4Df8fMxSzpXl3O2U/s320/320532_262208047137622_100000452866653_950298_7320631_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool Ice Sculpture, by Richard Glodowski, a chef at Iron Hill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>IRON FISH</b>, a Black Belgian Imperial IPA, is a collaboration beer from Flying Fish Brewing Company and Iron Hill Brewery in Maple Shade.<br />
<br />
This fish was created to be a complete FAD Brew. A future release is currently being Barrel Aged with Brett and Cherries, thereby covering every EVERY single fad at once.<br />
<br />
The beer was excellent, and there was a great turnout at the event despite Hurricane Irene.
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEfb4Kv-4npQMxL4fC5OXK3kLIH6ZDj6irXRbbZBCKhRHXtpccRlEZg1sP_HdJu6I8GRLGIxu60YajCcQw8x6hZtnzv2dQcrXIIGCcKLRylZu4Yy94R6Hn82vq4pNYpnYaexR7i-g9dRP/s1600/317354_238633162840961_188699997834278_567852_577249_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEfb4Kv-4npQMxL4fC5OXK3kLIH6ZDj6irXRbbZBCKhRHXtpccRlEZg1sP_HdJu6I8GRLGIxu60YajCcQw8x6hZtnzv2dQcrXIIGCcKLRylZu4Yy94R6Hn82vq4pNYpnYaexR7i-g9dRP/s320/317354_238633162840961_188699997834278_567852_577249_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris LaPierre (Iron Hill), Suzanne Woods, Gene Muller & Casey Hughes (Flying Fish), Mark Edelson (Iron Hill), Kevin Finn, and Curt Decker (Noddinghead)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Brew Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13694356776842369504noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194123451942449096.post-82516045436224477162011-08-23T14:06:00.000-04:002011-08-23T15:25:07.972-04:00Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier – Urbock<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpZ97HhLmX6PXeC9CABzqWeWT8_-mTpzNGyA528OLzSL1RJ-rHjxBK1ukXxobHgl2nUZSa_2QOJccxUt1qSsU00Z8ftDC_QruHHTRBaTLvQshyU44qfUhWrja49_FmU3jNtBt94LtJp-A/s1600/RauchbierBBQPork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpZ97HhLmX6PXeC9CABzqWeWT8_-mTpzNGyA528OLzSL1RJ-rHjxBK1ukXxobHgl2nUZSa_2QOJccxUt1qSsU00Z8ftDC_QruHHTRBaTLvQshyU44qfUhWrja49_FmU3jNtBt94LtJp-A/s400/RauchbierBBQPork.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b style="color: red;">Reviewed By: </b>Rick S.<br />
<b style="color: red;">Style:</b> Rauchbier, Bock<br />
<b style="color: red;">State/Country:</b> Germany<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">ABV:</span> </span>6.5%<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Serving Type:</span> 16.9 oz Bottle<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Look:</span> 8<br />
Dark brown color, clear, with a decent head and little lacing<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Smell:</span> 9<br />
Bacon, malt, and slight must<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;"><br />Taste:</span><span style="color: red;"> </span>9<br />
Mild Smoke up front, then a wave of sweetness, and then the two trail off together in the finish <br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Mouthfeel:</span> 9<br />
Medium to full body, slightly creamy, with low carbonation.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Drinkability</span><b><span style="color: red;">:</span></b> 8.5<br />
Surprisingly good!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">Overall Score:</span> </span>8.7<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;"><br />Value: </span></span>7<br />
Cost/12 oz serving: $3.79<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Overall Impression:</span><br />
I was expecting to be overwhelmed with smokey flavors, but that was not case. This beer is surprisingly well balanced. There is plenty of malt backbone to stand up to the smoked malt and mild hop bitterness. <br />
<br />
There are those beer drinkers who consider Rauchbier strictly an
acquired taste, and will have none of it. However, when paired with the right foods, Rauchbier can become the star of the show. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Food Pairing:</span> <br />
Suzy-QCB and I tried this world-class Rauchbier with a Pork Tenderloin that I smoked for 2.5 hours accompanied by green beans with roasted pecans and butter, and all of the flavor combinations were superb! <br />
<br />
Rauchbier goes extremely well with
bold, full-flavored foods, real BBQ, and smoked foods such as smoked ham, smoked pork, smoked
salmon, smoked sausages or smoked cheeses. The smoky flavors in the beer and food complement
each other perfectly! Rauchbier is also great with Mexican food.Brew Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13694356776842369504noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194123451942449096.post-2909449988312910442011-08-23T13:11:00.003-04:002011-08-23T13:27:07.211-04:00Yard's Cape of Good Hope<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwf6EHzgcIaIpD1D0Zp9EP6Wh9l5MEEMWpNirpeAp58MVP6VL4jzr9erSh5S3hFFD_k-h0Ycyme2Ih1FUc9o6n1M9uxRPmwWoip_dvHMgKbRbxzloyYRpmQbXIAKG2dbdbM2EWi8dXQJM/s1600/cogh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwf6EHzgcIaIpD1D0Zp9EP6Wh9l5MEEMWpNirpeAp58MVP6VL4jzr9erSh5S3hFFD_k-h0Ycyme2Ih1FUc9o6n1M9uxRPmwWoip_dvHMgKbRbxzloyYRpmQbXIAKG2dbdbM2EWi8dXQJM/s200/cogh.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>
<b style="color: red;">Reviewed By: </b>Rick S.<br />
<b style="color: red;">Style:</b> Double/Imperial IPA<br />
<b style="color: red;">State/Country:</b> Pennsylvania<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">ABV:</span> </span>8.1%<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Serving Type:</span> 12 oz Bottle<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Look:</span> 8.5<br />
Amber color, clear, with nice a head and good lacing<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Smell:</span> 8<br />
Pine, citrus, peach, mango, and sweet malt<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;"><br />Taste:</span><span style="color: red;"> </span>8<br />
Initial metallic taste, but then the flavor follows the aroma, with a pleasant balanced finish <br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Mouthfeel:</span> 8.5<br />
Full-bodied and creamy, with low-medium carbonation.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Drinkability</span><b><span style="color: red;">:</span></b> 8.5<br />
May I please have another? <br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">Overall Score:</span> </span>8.3<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;"><br />Value: </span></span>9<br />
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.78<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Overall Impression:</span><br />
Yard's consistently puts out good product, but this may be their best bottle release to date. I am not a huge fan of the pronounced grapefruit flavors and aromas present in many of the American PA's regardless of strength Thankfully, this fine DIPA only had hints of grapefruit, and the beer was very balanced. Nice job Tom, Prost!Brew Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13694356776842369504noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194123451942449096.post-49879408238623035042011-08-21T13:55:00.000-04:002011-08-23T06:07:03.067-04:00Brooklyn Brewery and Peter Luger's<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On Saturday, 08/20/11, Suzy-QCB and I ventured into Brooklyn for a tour of the Brooklyn Brewery. The tour itself was about 15-20 minutes long, shorter than most we have been on, and since they are in the middle of a major expansion, the tour was limited to the main section of the brewery. Regardless, the tour guide was great, and his presentation of the history of brewery, complete with all the trials and tribulation was quite entertaining. I won't spoil it, so you'll have to go there yourself.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRkrDXv11mYbFxJe-75wYEFjrFNHVV1dCG4axnlO266FIGgsnSe74_biu9SPLPlxGgvNyyAVf7To0qOYbT9loBhb_8DwIqvTBYwLQ7-ja73auE8Rx0K4qbKgkSXAnwdZOZZPgBRUBFSQJ/s1600/RickSuzFront.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRkrDXv11mYbFxJe-75wYEFjrFNHVV1dCG4axnlO266FIGgsnSe74_biu9SPLPlxGgvNyyAVf7To0qOYbT9loBhb_8DwIqvTBYwLQ7-ja73auE8Rx0K4qbKgkSXAnwdZOZZPgBRUBFSQJ/s320/RickSuzFront.JPG" width="320" /></a>The tour did not include free samples, however, for only $20, you could buy 6 tokens, or you could purchase single tokens for $4. Each token allowed you to enjoy a 12 oz beer on tap, with "Blast", a 9%ABV Double IPA being the only exception (2 tokens). <br />
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Together we sampled 4 beers: EIPA, Brown, Blast, and Radius. All of the beers were great, but our favorite was "Radius", a Belgian-style session beer. <br />
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Before moving on to our dinner and a brief food pairing review, here are some pics from inside of the brewery:<br />
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We then moved on to the world-famous Peter Luger's Steak House, voted Best Steak House in NYC 26 years in a row, and regarded as many as the finest Steak House in the world! <br />
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I am not a food critic, nor am I a culinary expert, but Garrett Oliver, the head brewer for Brooklyn Brewery IS. Here are excerpts from his book, "The Brewmaster's Table" that actually served as the catalyst for this entire trip. <br />
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<i>"Peter Luger's Steakhouse, founded in 1887, is one of the oldest restaurants in NYC, and home to the best steak in the United States. I can hear the protests already, the accusations of chauvinism - but these will be coming only from people who haven't eaten at Peter Luger's. I was once skeptical myself, I am now a convert.... </i><br />
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<i>...Brooklyn Lager is on draft, and our amber lager is the perfect accompaniment to the steak. Peter Luger's broiler operates at 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, so hot that the surface of the meat caramelizes instantly, leaving the center juicy and red. When the snappy hops cut through the butter (the steak is swimming in it), and the caramel malts meet the steak, you will forget that wine even exists."</i><br />
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After experiencing this first hand, I concur on all counts. It was easily the best steak I' have ever tasted, and the Brooklyn Lager was absolutely perfect with it! Absolutely AMAZING! <br />
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The Bacon was also very impressive! <br />
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All told, my trip to Brooklyn cost nearly $250, but it was worth every penny, as it was an unforgettable experience!<br />
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<a href="http://brewjersey.blogspot.com/2011/08/brooklyn-lager.html"><b>Brooklyn Lager Review</b></a><br />
<br />Brew Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13694356776842369504noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194123451942449096.post-29936298005114661702011-08-18T23:27:00.002-04:002011-08-18T23:37:34.591-04:00Stoudt's Pils<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="color: red;">Reviewed By: </b>Rick S.<br />
<b style="color: red;">Style:</b> German Pilsner<br />
<b style="color: red;">State/Country:</b> Pennsylvania<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">ABV:</span> </span>5.4%<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Serving Type:</span> 12 oz. Bottle<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Look:</span> 9<br />
Pale golden color, clear. Thick white head with good retention and very nice lacing <br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Smell:</span> 8.5<br />
Floral hops, grass, and a touch of lemon and sweet malt<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Taste:</span><span style="color: red;"> </span>8<br />
Hops dominate the flavor profile, but there is just enough sweetness to balance it, somewhat. Long hoppy finish. Floral and Spicy. <br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Mouthfeel:</span> 8.5<br />
Light-medium body with medium-high carbonation.<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Drinkability</span><span style="color: red;">:</span> 8.5<br />
Very crisp and refreshing<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">Overall Score:</span> </span>8.5<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;"><br />Value: </span></span>9<br />
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.78 <br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Overall Impression:</span><br />
Very true to the style. Assertive hops from beginning to end. Stoudt's definitely knows how to produce authentic German lagers! I would have to say that this is my second favorite German Pilsner. It's a great beer, and with the NFL season fast approaching, this would be an excellent choice to go with wings and nachos!Brew Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13694356776842369504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194123451942449096.post-6177374769950228992011-08-18T20:16:00.004-04:002011-08-18T20:18:40.551-04:00Shiner Old-Time Alt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpqmjb0HNpiiC4R_ffgf9hBRRpMtm4WybyfJKsc0XwHfFC0Mz6ZHEY2wVdc9L-g6BA-QgoZCr7cvrVWu-i7KX_B8uplw27ICRrhcJYhCUXG6PwLb0GMYj6-CjtWSYi1aluJv7C8tTRPLf/s1600/Old_Time_Alt.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpqmjb0HNpiiC4R_ffgf9hBRRpMtm4WybyfJKsc0XwHfFC0Mz6ZHEY2wVdc9L-g6BA-QgoZCr7cvrVWu-i7KX_B8uplw27ICRrhcJYhCUXG6PwLb0GMYj6-CjtWSYi1aluJv7C8tTRPLf/s1600/Old_Time_Alt.jpeg" /></a></div>
<b style="color: red;">Reviewed By: </b>Rick S.<br />
<b style="color: red;">Style:</b> Altbier<br />
<b style="color: red;">State/Country:</b> Texas<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">ABV:</span> </span>5.0%<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Serving Type:</span> 12 oz. Bottle<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Look:</span> 7.5<br />
Light Amber color, clear. Thin head with little retention, but nice lacing <br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Smell:</span> 7<br />
Mild scent of toasted malt, nuts, hay, and corn <br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Taste:</span><span style="color: red;"> </span>7<br />
Toasted malt, balanced nicely by the hops, then some mild malt, and a lingering metallic taste<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Mouthfeel:</span> 7.5<br />
Light body, and medium carbonation, with a slight dry finish<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Drinkability</span><span style="color: red;">:</span> 7.5<br />
Crisp and smooth<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">Overall Score:</span> </span>7.3<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;"><br />Value: </span></span>9<br />
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.42 <br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Overall Impression:</span><br />
Another pretty average beer, but it was better than I expected. I bought a variety 6-pack, which is kinda cool, since you typically have to get a 12-pack or a case for a 4-6 beer variety. This is far a great representation of the Altbier style, but judging it on its own, it was pretty enjoyable. Not every beer has to be amazing or cost you an arm and a leg. If you want to save a few bucks and drink something decent, check it out.Brew Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13694356776842369504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194123451942449096.post-80452602712288777442011-08-18T19:45:00.002-04:002011-08-18T23:16:23.424-04:00Otter Creek Copper Ale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_sgZU42GpfvYAZqO6aF2MZtnno9Xad7Tve5djKSajHoFBExZMH36MoE3eT5xSCgp_fvZ5bwNkzf9i3FpVYmoDllC68hfV_wC-0LVncxw4YB3JPklsJjbYUOvcHhyphenhyphendLAk2CzVksafYp31/s1600/Otter+Creek+Copper+Ale.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_sgZU42GpfvYAZqO6aF2MZtnno9Xad7Tve5djKSajHoFBExZMH36MoE3eT5xSCgp_fvZ5bwNkzf9i3FpVYmoDllC68hfV_wC-0LVncxw4YB3JPklsJjbYUOvcHhyphenhyphendLAk2CzVksafYp31/s1600/Otter+Creek+Copper+Ale.gif" /></a></div>
<b style="color: red;">Reviewed By: </b>Rick S.<br />
<b style="color: red;">Style:</b> Altbier<br />
<b style="color: red;">State/Country:</b> Vermont<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">ABV:</span> </span>5.0%<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Serving Type:</span> 12 oz. Bottle<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Look:</span> 8<br />
Amber color, slight haze. Medium head with decent retention and lacing <br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Smell:</span> 7<br />
Very mild scent of sweet malt, raw sugar, and herbal hops <br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Taste:</span><span style="color: red;"> </span>7<br />
Metallic hops, toasted malt, with a hint of caramel and toffee, and a lingering bitterness<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Mouthfeel:</span>7.5<br />
Light-medium body, and medium carbonation, with a slight creamy finish<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Drinkability</span><span style="color: red;">:</span> 7.5<br />
Smooth and easy to drink<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">Overall Score:</span> </span>7.4<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;"><br />Value: </span></span>9<br />
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.42 <br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Overall Impression:</span><br />
A pretty average beer across the board. The aromas and flavors are nice, but there is not enough of them. Still, a good beer for the money, and certainly worth checking outBrew Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13694356776842369504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194123451942449096.post-58842339889700531072011-08-18T06:55:00.006-04:002011-08-18T23:16:48.588-04:00Stoudt's Gold Lager<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWnIqViAdPSEieiniitECPeurBSr_Yxk_I3xJo8d9sb6bYkZAMKTUZx3sycQSRrHLFiVhf37Vqk6ojb4X1Lh7I-7PDMg6KGifJji8kcu19wnwMbHGSuuUERYXdMlV9GWigKTFkyzGEZJj/s1600/stoudtsgold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWnIqViAdPSEieiniitECPeurBSr_Yxk_I3xJo8d9sb6bYkZAMKTUZx3sycQSRrHLFiVhf37Vqk6ojb4X1Lh7I-7PDMg6KGifJji8kcu19wnwMbHGSuuUERYXdMlV9GWigKTFkyzGEZJj/s1600/stoudtsgold.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="color: red;">Reviewed By: </b>Rick S.<br />
<b style="color: red;">Style:</b> Munich Helles Lager<br />
<b style="color: red;">State/Country:</b> Pennsylvania<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">ABV:</span> </span>5.0%<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Serving Type:</span> 12 oz. Bottle<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Look:</span> 8.5<br />
Pale golden color, clear. Thick white head with nice retention and decent lacing <br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Smell:</span> 9<br />
Sweet malt, toasted malt, grain, and floral hops <br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Taste:</span><span style="color: red;"> </span>8.5<br />
Sweet/bready malt, balanced by herbal and mildly spicy hops, finishing with with a biscuit malt<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Mouthfeel:</span> 8.5<br />
Medium body and carbonation, with a slight creamy finish<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Drinkability</span><span style="color: red;">:</span> 8.5<br />
Uber-Drinkable <br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">Overall Score:</span> </span>8.6<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;"><br />Value: </span></span>9.5<br />
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.78 <br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Overall Impression:</span><br />
"Helles" means "bright" in German. This style of lager was Munich's answer to the Bohemian (Czech) Pilsners that quickly swept across Europe in the mid-1800's. They are bit maltier, and more balanced compared to their hop forward cousins.<br />
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This is the third Munich Helles I've reviewed this week, and it is easily the best of the three. Interesting that this one came from America, and the other two were from Germany. However, it's not surprising given the huge influx of Germans in this region. Breweries like Stoudt's and Victory obviously know how to produce outstanding lagers that rival the best of Germany. Stoudt's Gold Lager is no exception. Prost!<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Food Pairing:</span><br />
Here I am several hours later to add some additional color to this review. I just made a chicken breast heavily seasoned with Jamaican Curry powder and Applewood Smoked Red Savina (a mutant red habanero that is twice as hot as a regular habanero - 550,000 Scoville Units). The flavor and spice was powerful and amazing! Stoudt"s Gold stood up to it no problem at all! The sweet malt tamed the heat of the chilies, and blended nicely with the pungent curry. The mild hops and ample carbonation scrubbed the palate, making every bite as good as the first.<br />
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The typical recommendation for pairing Munich Helles with food is: lighter dishes, chicken, sandwiches, and all things pork (of course). Most experts would suggest an IPA as the perfect pairing for this fiery and pungent Jamaican dish, but this particular Munich Helles was spot on! <br />
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<br />Brew Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13694356776842369504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194123451942449096.post-85359123993399400942011-08-17T08:29:00.000-04:002011-08-30T06:09:40.923-04:00Tri State Craft Beer Map<iframe width="586" height="483" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=213593657464528706567.00049863ad1d6839212c0&ie=UTF8&vpsrc=6&source=embed&ll=40.196547,-76.97482&spn=1.669035,6.033035&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=213593657464528706567.00049863ad1d6839212c0&ie=UTF8&vpsrc=6&source=embed&ll=40.196547,-76.97482&spn=1.669035,6.033035"target="_blank" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Brew Jersey Craft Beer Map</a> in a larger map</small>
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After clicking on the map, a full list is located on the left, and all locations are color coded by type.<br />
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If you know of a great location that is not listed, please let me know and I'll add it
Brew Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13694356776842369504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194123451942449096.post-35743316230396548722011-08-15T21:11:00.003-04:002011-08-19T08:19:11.343-04:00Suzy-QCB's Birthday<div style="text-align: left;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsfnt72-8Gzp3pLBuGUKa21CaULtbp42WRMzSVpwUqNZinTa9nEuFvKQEBQaIZcAOxpkVCpea0jOfULqe6WMBUcV9WlBW54kw7G0onlx8ASZDLnfs99XRVwP3iVwPAzIwbBn7YXN-5oH-/s1600/262405_269774083035093_100000075101047_1208631_2778796_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsfnt72-8Gzp3pLBuGUKa21CaULtbp42WRMzSVpwUqNZinTa9nEuFvKQEBQaIZcAOxpkVCpea0jOfULqe6WMBUcV9WlBW54kw7G0onlx8ASZDLnfs99XRVwP3iVwPAzIwbBn7YXN-5oH-/s400/262405_269774083035093_100000075101047_1208631_2778796_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Texas Roadhouse</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I had a Samuel Adams Boston Lager with my meal. It's the best beer they offered, but luckily it goes pretty good with great steak. Brew Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13694356776842369504noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194123451942449096.post-46421329988131988422011-08-11T23:59:00.001-04:002011-08-25T05:30:58.852-04:00Flying Fish Farmhouse Summer Ale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_1y1YvoQ0BcVAdL9ZpwVg-8qObvv-i8bGavE8bdVqOg_Ag1KDTBXtONXAgeo1wlqOBWyopRYAIXIRtKOslbaqbl2NlwSJ7lB57CYyTA2APloZaUjwRRN747LkO56pTNCWhBP12QBqiPn/s1600/FF+Farmhouse+Summer+Ale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_1y1YvoQ0BcVAdL9ZpwVg-8qObvv-i8bGavE8bdVqOg_Ag1KDTBXtONXAgeo1wlqOBWyopRYAIXIRtKOslbaqbl2NlwSJ7lB57CYyTA2APloZaUjwRRN747LkO56pTNCWhBP12QBqiPn/s1600/FF+Farmhouse+Summer+Ale.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="color: red;">Reviewed By: </b>Rick S.<br />
<b style="color: red;">Style:</b> American Blonde Ale<br />
<b style="color: red;">State/Country:</b> New Jersey<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">ABV:</span> </span>4.6%<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Serving Type:</span> On Tap @ Geraghty's Pub<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Look:</span> 8<br />
Light golden color, slight haze, with a foamy white head and decent lacing. <br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Smell:</span> 8<br />
Sweet malt, grassy and earthy with mild fruit <br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Taste:</span><span style="color: red;"> </span>8.5<br />
Light fruit up front, mild funk, with a nice biscuit malt and mild spice in the finish<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Mouthfeel:</span> 8<br />
Light body with low carbonation, and a creamy finish<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Drinkability</span><span style="color: red;">:</span> 8<br />
Smooth and refreshing <br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">Overall Score:</span> </span>8.1<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;"><br />Value: </span></span>6 / 9 (bar / 6-pack)<br />
Cost/12 oz serving: $5.00 / $1.60 <br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Overall Impression:</span><br />
Some people have referred to this is a Belgian Farmhouse Ale, but in my opinion, it lacks the spiciness, intensity, and complexity to qualify as such. It IS a nice refreshing summer ale, and it is very sessionable, Yet another solid offering from Flying Fish!<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;"></span>Brew Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13694356776842369504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194123451942449096.post-89899178489651109592011-08-11T13:59:00.000-04:002011-08-26T14:08:22.388-04:00Test<div class="post-column-left">
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Brew Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13694356776842369504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194123451942449096.post-70538130143242195532011-08-06T07:30:00.000-04:002011-08-12T17:13:05.535-04:00Breakfast Pairing 080411<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Recently, while enjoying a <b><a href="http://brewjersey.blogspot.com/2011/08/samuel-adams-chocolate-cherry-bock.html">Samuel Adams Chocolate Cherry Bock</a> </b>at Hawthorne's Cafe on 11th St in South Philly, I was chatting with the owner, Chris. He said,
"Can you image how great it would be with our French Toast on a Saturday
morning?" I decided that imagining or holding off simply would not do, so I
ordered another beer and the French Toast right away.<br />
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Mind you, this was not your everyday French Toast, it's the real deal. The edges of these
2 huge triangular slices of bread had an excellent caramelized crust
that was extra crispy in spots, while the inside was rich and moist. Sprinkled with powdered sugar, served with fresh fruit, and butter & syrup on the side.<br />
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The Chocolate Cherry Bock and the French Toast were both great on their own, but when they came together it was pure magic! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIPFgrW-cITrRnOYA9ob0IsCAkEYIcA3531Cjq_h2Zcylff-0PnhRNf573aHvmw1j1Q9UEBgIq-Rz7BZguHL33k1YWc7Y7Lvko2SDa7cJwzBenW8Zus-VgmmMstp4bGbmhBLptoXBPsod/s1600/Cherry+Choc+and+French+Toast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIPFgrW-cITrRnOYA9ob0IsCAkEYIcA3531Cjq_h2Zcylff-0PnhRNf573aHvmw1j1Q9UEBgIq-Rz7BZguHL33k1YWc7Y7Lvko2SDa7cJwzBenW8Zus-VgmmMstp4bGbmhBLptoXBPsod/s640/Cherry+Choc+and+French+Toast.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The sweet malt worked nicely with the powdered sugar, while latching
on to the caramelized portions of the bread, melding with the
bready center. The roasted malt was absolutely perfect with the super
crispy edges. And in tandem with the hops and mild carbonation, it cut through
the fat and cleansed the palate, making every bite as good as the
first.<br />
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Although the French Toast was awesome on its own, I tried it with butter, syrup, and then both. The Chocolate Cherry Bock worked with every combination, but it was hands down the best with both!<br />
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Additionally, the sweetness and tartness of the berries paired well with that of the chocolate and cherry in the beer, making the pairing a huge success! <br />
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Check out the <b><a href="http://brewjersey.blogspot.com/2011/08/samuel-adams-chocolate-cherry-bock.html">Samuel Adams Chocolate Cherry Bock</a></b> Review belowBrew Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13694356776842369504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194123451942449096.post-72319591299844406252011-08-05T17:12:00.006-04:002011-08-12T17:19:05.143-04:00Bottle Cap ArtBy Suzy-QCB<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQvB7ej7DxMUp-a7h48ga-gLvPK9jHe4Hoy8X8Khx0AUgQV-w3MiYi_F8xw-V8zGzCdbKW-5eYsWBRN93rMbDhqQbaMdgr9UDXkb1ggZL3WTgThAvdCfRvV2gVcU1KEEMXx9-PnwZZLNE/s1600/bottlecap+art+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQvB7ej7DxMUp-a7h48ga-gLvPK9jHe4Hoy8X8Khx0AUgQV-w3MiYi_F8xw-V8zGzCdbKW-5eYsWBRN93rMbDhqQbaMdgr9UDXkb1ggZL3WTgThAvdCfRvV2gVcU1KEEMXx9-PnwZZLNE/s400/bottlecap+art+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE24N0VpByEHx5bgopUYkGgm6NMeCv6vxN6pqC474IyXOPLsPFOG-bmzLjTIvTsF5o-NX0isOI5XdguVPXrBDoiDq56qqScd-LsdTGAMOR1DtVUQP-E4Q4GWcUsQcWMrfUCuliJmfPWpeO/s1600/269577_248181531861015_100000075101047_1119711_1679658_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE24N0VpByEHx5bgopUYkGgm6NMeCv6vxN6pqC474IyXOPLsPFOG-bmzLjTIvTsF5o-NX0isOI5XdguVPXrBDoiDq56qqScd-LsdTGAMOR1DtVUQP-E4Q4GWcUsQcWMrfUCuliJmfPWpeO/s320/269577_248181531861015_100000075101047_1119711_1679658_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36A1fJx2bqU3AqeVPkHI_1DQ58It2q2Ab7T2X6dtE1UVAubKeH9WtD-2tI3Onw8k5nHeBbdxBnMi6oZjT29yaIw-UiGebsENwHUogTHuH_LaJE3wndLl3lTUyRRQRzMfkjVPzb4NperfZ/s1600/269577_248181538527681_100000075101047_1119713_3288711_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36A1fJx2bqU3AqeVPkHI_1DQ58It2q2Ab7T2X6dtE1UVAubKeH9WtD-2tI3Onw8k5nHeBbdxBnMi6oZjT29yaIw-UiGebsENwHUogTHuH_LaJE3wndLl3lTUyRRQRzMfkjVPzb4NperfZ/s320/269577_248181538527681_100000075101047_1119713_3288711_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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More to come soon...Brew Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13694356776842369504noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194123451942449096.post-44722624281487851412011-08-05T07:07:00.006-04:002011-08-05T08:02:03.475-04:00Samuel Adams Chocolate Cherry Bock<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyqqodAt_ypFwgNsMgNlX-OAbbMnPgLnb_-YTrm_V6fNuFMQ_UHoKI30fS5KEmAFL_-4Kyzn9y-ZiJ2_LBd1DKLvI4yiqntHnJuYf5qeyq81SHJU8GS5PnwrMJT44aIIjwWvtLwGiL13Z/s1600/Choco+Cherry2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyqqodAt_ypFwgNsMgNlX-OAbbMnPgLnb_-YTrm_V6fNuFMQ_UHoKI30fS5KEmAFL_-4Kyzn9y-ZiJ2_LBd1DKLvI4yiqntHnJuYf5qeyq81SHJU8GS5PnwrMJT44aIIjwWvtLwGiL13Z/s320/Choco+Cherry2.png" width="129" /></a></div>
<b style="color: red;">Reviewed By: </b>Rick S.<br />
<b style="color: red;">Style:</b> Bock<br />
<b style="color: red;">State/Country:</b> Massachusetts<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">ABV:</span> </span>7.0%<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Serving Type:</span> On Tap @ Hawthorne's<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Look:</span> 9.5<br />
Black color with reddish hues, thick creamy tan head with great lacing. <br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Smell:</span> 8.5<br />
Dark chocolate, roasted malt, and lots of cherry<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Taste:</span><span style="color: red;"> </span>9<br />
Blast
of cherries and chocolate up front, balanced by the hops and roast in
the middle, and finishing with chocolate and cherries. Flavors are
linear, which is typical for the style<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Mouthfeel:</span> 9<br />
Medium-heavy body with low carbonation, and a slick finish<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Drinkability</span><span style="color: red;">:</span> 9<br />
Decadent!<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">Overall Score:</span> </span>9<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;"><br />Value: </span></span>7<br />
Cost/12 oz serving: $5.50<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Overall Impression:</span><br />
It was like drinking <span class="st"><i>Cellas</i>® d</span>ark chocolate covered cherries. Deelish! <br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Food Pairing:</span><br />
As I was drinking this I was thinking how great it would be with ANY
type of chocolate desert with or without cherries strawberries or
raspberries, cheesecake again with or without fruit, and vanilla ice
cream. I paired my second one with food...<a href="http://brewjersey.blogspot.com/2011/08/breakfast-pairing-080411.html">here is the review</a> Brew Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13694356776842369504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194123451942449096.post-2297339586534850762011-08-04T08:07:00.024-04:002011-08-07T09:34:08.783-04:00When Trying New Beers......A little bit of knowledge goes a long way! <br />
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For those of you that are new to the wonderful world of Craft Beer, nothing will aid in the enjoyment of the beer you are about to try more than a basic understanding of what to expect!<br />
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Even the crusty old vets would benefit from a refresher now and again, especially if the beer in hand is "not one of your favorite styles" or one you have not had in a while. Certified Beer Judges review the styles before competitions, so it certainly wouldn't hurt.<br />
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To illustrate my point, let's take Brown Ale. Do you know that there are two distinctly different versions of Brown Ale? How about the styles that are similar, like Amber Ale or Porter? Do you know the differences between them, or how they came to be? How about the flavors that are typical or considered unacceptable to the style? What color should it be, and what is the ABV range? And finally, do you know what foods would go perfect with the particular style?<br />
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If you do not know the answer to all of the above, then how can you judge the beer correctly or appreciate it to the fullest? I think you know the answer; you can't!<br />
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By not knowing what to expect, there are three typical responses the newcomer will have when trying a new beer:<br />
<ol>
<li>It was good</li>
<li>It sucked (usually citing Bitterness as the culprit), or</li>
<li>It was just ok</li>
</ol>
This holds true for all new experiences, not just beer. When I worked for Bryn Mawr Stereo/Tweeter Home Entertainment, we were huge on doing proper demo's and wowing the customer. The basic formula was:<br />
<ol>
<li>Set The Stage - tell them what they are going to hear (setting expectations) </li>
<li>Do The Demo - allowing the customer to experience it</li>
<li>Confirm The Experience</li>
</ol>
<ul>
</ul>
SETTING THE STAGE<br />
Imagine this scenario: <i>"John, I am going to demonstrate the imaging capability of these loudspeakers for you. Imaging is the placement of the instruments withing the soundstage. A truly great loudspeaker can create the illusion of actually being there with the musicians. This a track from (ARTIST). I want you to focus on the following. The bass player will be dead center holding down the groove. The clean vocals will appear in front of the bass player, about 6 feet high. Take notice how the the sound of the vocals emanate outward giving you a sense of the spaciousness of the room they are performing in. The guitarist will appear clearly positioned five feet off to the left. But your main focus should be on the drums. The drummer is a few feet off-center to the right. At one point he does a sweeping drum roll followed by the a crash of the cymbal. You will be able to actually "see" the mammoth drumset before you, with every piece in the kit precisely defined in space."</i><br />
<ul>
</ul>
DEMO<br />
<br />
CONFIRM<br />
<i>"John, did you hear what I was talking about with the vocals?"</i><br />
<br />
Customer response: <i>"Absolutely, but what you told me about the drums...OMG that was incredible! I was totally convinced that I was right there with the band!"</i> ...And then the customer continues to expound on the experience, ultimately and finishing with, <i>"I'll take a pair!"</i><br />
<br />
That is a far cry from "It was good, or just ok". The difference maker was simply a little bit of information on what to expect.<br />
<br />
This is a universally applied concept. So take a few minutes to gain a basic understanding of what to expect, and heighten your enjoyment of every glass!<br />
<br />
BTW, I recently took my own advice regarding Brown Ale, particularly American Brown Ale, and I have a significantly deeper appreciation for a style that I didn't really care for prior.<br />
<br />
Below is the 2011 Brewers Association Style Guidelines for American Brown Ale:<br />
<b><br />
American Brown Ales</b> range from deep copper to brown in color. Roasted malt caramel-like and chocolate-like characters should be of medium intensity in both flavor and aroma. American brown ales have evident low to medium hop flavor and aroma, medium to high hop bitterness, and a medium body. Estery and fruity-ester characters should be subdued. Diacetyl should not be perceived. Chill haze is allowable at cold temperatures.<br />
<br />
<b>Original Gravity</b> (ºPlato) 1.040-1.060 (10-14.7 ºPlato) <br />
<b>Apparent Extract/Final Gravity</b> (ºPlato) 1.010-1.018 (2.5-4.5 ºPlato) <br />
<b>Alcohol by Weight (Volume) </b>3.3-5.0% (4-6.4%) <br />
<b>Bitterness </b>(IBU) 25-45 <br />
<b>Color SRM (EBC)</b> 15-26 (30-52 EBC)<br />
<br />
To download the The 2011 Brewers Association Style Guidelines, visit <a href="http://www.brewersassociation.org/" target="_blank">http://www.brewersassociation.<wbr></wbr>org/</a> - Type 2011 Style Guidelines in the Search Box<br />
<br />
Significantly more in-depth Style Guidelines can be found at <a href="http://www.bjcp.org/index.php" target="_blank">http://www.bjcp.org/index.php</a><br />
The Style Guidelines are on the top right in the Quick Navigation Side Bar<br />
<br />
The Brief History of Brown Ales can be found here:<br />
<a href="http://allaboutbeer.com/learn-beer/styles/stylistically-speaking/2008/05/basic-brown?singlePage" target="_blank">http://allaboutbeer.com/learn-<wbr></wbr>beer/styles/stylistically-<wbr></wbr>speaking/2008/05/basic-brown?<wbr></wbr>singlePage</a><br />
<br />
Food Pairing info and more in-depth history can be found in The Brewermaster's Table, by Garrett Oliver, and Tasting Beer, by Randy Mosher<br />
<br />
A small investment of time will pay huge dividends in enjoyment! Now get busy! Brew Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13694356776842369504noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194123451942449096.post-82339461767369483332011-08-04T07:59:00.000-04:002011-08-19T09:22:43.229-04:00How to Match Beer With Food<b></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="color: red;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE BREWERS ASSOCIATION THREE-STEP, CAN'T FAIL GUIDE TO MATCHING BEER AND FOOD</b></span></div>
Three basic principles should be considered; these are listed below.
Each one is important, but there is no 1-2-3 order for the pairing
process. Start with either a specific beer or food, then seek a suitable
partner according to the following guidelines:<br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">MATCH STRENGTH WITH STRENGTH</b> <br />
Delicate dishes work
best with delicate beers, and strongly-flavored foods demand assertive
beers—no surprise there. Intensity of flavor is not any single thing,
but a sum of the taste experience. In beer, it may involve alcoholic
strength, malt character, hop bitterness, sweetness, richness,
roastiness and more. In food, richness (okay, let’s just say it—fat),
sweetness, cooking methods, spicing, texture and complexity all play a
role.<br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">FIND HARMONIES</b> <br />
Combinations often work best when
they share some common flavor or aroma elements. The nutty flavors of an
English-style brown ale and a handmade cheddar cheese; the deep,
roasted flavors of imperial stout and chocolate truffles; the clean
caramelly flavors of an Oktoberfest lager and roasted pork are all
examples of this.<br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">CONSIDER SWEETNESS, BITTERNESS,</b><span style="color: red;"> </span><b><span style="color: red;">CARBONATION, HEAT
(SPICE) AND RICHNESS</span> </b><br />
Certain qualities of food and beer interact with
each other in specific, predictable ways. Taking advantage of these
interactions ensures that the food and beer will balance each other,
with one partner not throwing the match out of whack. These are
specific interactions, different from the intensity-matching mentioned
above. One sort of has to parse these out one-by-one as the situation
demands, and find flavors that will enhance one another. The chart below
lays out the specifics. Foods that have a lot of sweetness or fatty
richness (or both) can be matched by a various elements in beer: hop
bitterness, sweetness, roasted/toasted malt or alcohol. Carbonation is
also effective at cutting richness. Malty sweetness cools the heat, so
if you’re leaning to a hoppy beer with spicy food, make sure it has
plenty of malt as well.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="color: red;">WHAT ABOUT COMPLEMENT AND/OR CONTRAST?</b><br />
The
complement aspect is covered by step 2, Find Harmonies. Contrast is
always present to some degree, and may dominate the relationship or not.
It’s usually the case that contrasting and complimentary relationships
exist, as they are not mutually exclusive. Most of the major players in
contrast are covered by the interacting elements noted in step 3, above.
Be aware, however, that having some degree of contrast doesn’t remove
the need to match intensities as described in step 1.<br />
<br />
<i>Some additional thoughts about enjoying beer and food together:</i><br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">LOOK TO CLASSIC CUISINES</b> <br />
The cuisines of beer-drinking countries offer many traditional beer and food combinations. Schnitzel with pale l
ager may be obvious, but who would have thought to put stout together
with oysters? Classic matches like this can be found if you seek them
out, and offer a great start to further exploration.<br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT</b> <br />
Not every pairing works as
expected—this can be fun if you learn to appreciate the unexpected.
Build on the things that work and keep seeking those magic combinations.<br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">CONSIDER SEASONALITY</b><br />
The warm summer months favor
light foods and beers while heartier fare works best in winter. The
beers and foods of a given season pair naturally together and suit the
mood as well.<br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">CONTRAST AND COMPLEMENT</b><br />
All beer and food
combinations should involve both of these principles. Some pairings will
be more dependent on contrast, others on complementary flavors. All
should strive for some kind of balance.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: red; text-align: center;">
<b>CLICK TO ENLARGE</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b style="color: red;">BEER AND CHEESE</b> <br />
Beer’s bright carbonation and crisp hoppiness can handle the
mouth-coating richness of cheese. Medium-intensity beers suit many
cheeses, but one as powerful as Stilton requires an assertive Barley Wine. The herbal and floral hop nose of an IPA blends nicely with the
complex aroma of blue cheese, while the bitterness cleanses the palate.
Aromatic Hefeweizen makes a nice match with simple Chevre. Fruit Beers
are excellent with soft-ripened cheese such as Brie. Stout and aged
cheddar is another great pair, and for the adventurous, smoked porter
with a smoked cheese is a rustic joy. <br />
<br />
<div style="color: red; float: left;">
<b>BEER AND MAIN COURSES</b></div>
<br />
There’s a perfect beer for just about any main dish, as long as you
remember to match the intensity of the beer to the food. For lighter
items such as grilled fish, a Pilsner is a treat. For roasted chicken, a
malty Lager or Pale Ale can be great. The sweet heat of barbecue can be
tamed by a beer like Maibock or an Abbey-style Dubbel. For grilled or
roast beef, a hearty Porter or Stout is an excellent choice.<br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">BEER AS AN APERITIF (SALADS &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; APPETIZERS)</b><br />
Crisp, refreshing beers are the best way to start a meal. Lighter
wheat beers can be a perfect match for salads, although the bitterness
of greens sometimes calls for a hoppy Pilsner. A floral Blonde Ale is
great with seared Ahi tuna. Hoppy American Pale Ale can balance the
richness of appetizers such as cheese tartlets. Spicy Saison is the
perfect counterpoint to New Orleans style shrimp. A full-flavored Red Aale or Amber Lager can be an ideal mate to smoked fish – or you might
choose to present it with an elegantly crisp, dry stout. The idea is to create a great experience without wearing out the
palate. Look for beers that are light in body and aren’t aggressively
bitter.<br />
<br />
<div style="color: red;">
<b>BEER WITH DESSERT </b></div>
So challenging with wine, dessert works beautifully with beer. Rich,
full-flavored beers are needed to balance the sweetness of most
desserts. American small brewers love to produce such styles, so there
are plenty of choices. Fruity desserts can be paired with a strong pale Tripel. Caramelly bread pudding or nut tart demands something with
similar qualities – Old Ale fills the role beautifully. Super-sweet
items such as cheesecake, crème brulee or carrot cake can create a
memorable experience with highly hopped beers such as Double IPAs.
Spice and citrus qualities in many beers work well with desserts that
highlight similar flavors.<br />
<br />
Chocolate loves a Dark Beer. Milk chocolate is wonderful with
Belgian-inspired Strong Dark Ales. Flourless chocolate cake or truffles
call for an inky Imperial Stout. Fruit Beers have an obvious affinity
for fruit desserts, but they can be magic with chocolate as well.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Brew Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13694356776842369504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194123451942449096.post-85317903613372755662011-08-04T07:58:00.000-04:002011-08-20T09:23:47.827-04:00Cooking With Beer<div style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Because of its wide range of properties, beer makes an excellent
ingredient in the kitchen. It may be used in similar ways to other
cooking liquids, but requires a few considerations. Match the intensity
of the beer to the dish, just as if you were pairing a beer and a
finished dish. Bitterness in beer requires special attention. In
general, low-bitterness beers are best for cooking. It is advisable not
to reduce beer, as even a slightly bitter beer may become too bitter
for the dish. Small amounts of bitterness may be balances by a touch of
sweetness, salt and/or acidity. As always, taste as you cook.<br />
<br />
<i>Beer can be used to:</i><br />
<br />
<div style="color: red;">
<b>Lighten Up a Batter</b> </div>
Beer adds a lightness to batter
used to deep-fry items like fish and chicken. Beer Suggestions: pale
or amber lightly hopped lager or ale.<br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">Deglaze the Pan</b><br />
A quick sauce for sautéed or
roasted items can be made by using beer to deglaze the pan. Do not
reduce the beer, as it may become excessively bitter. Beer Suggestions:
delicate or intense, to match the nature of the dish, but
low-bitterness beers are preferred.<br />
<br />
<div style="color: red;">
<b>Dressings and Marinades</b> </div>
Beer can make a great
addition to salad dressings and marinades for grilled meat or barbecue.
Acidic ones can substitute for vinegar in dressings. Beer Suggestions:
Pale, low-bitterness beers for dressings; heartier amber or brown
beers for marinades.<br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">Steaming or Poaching Liquid</b><br />
Although mussels
steamed in wheat bier is a classic, other great combinations are
possible. Beer Suggestions: witbier, weissbier, other delicate,
lightly-hopped brews.<br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">Replace or Augment Stock in Soups and Sauces</b><b style="color: red; font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
Many
beers can add richness to hearty soups or meat gravy. Don’t make cheese
soup without it! Beer Suggestions: sweet stout, doppelbock, Scotch
ale.<br />
<br />
<div style="color: red;">
<b>Make Dessert Even More Luxurious</b> </div>
Strong, rich beers
may be substituted for other liquids in cakes and other pastries.
Fruit beers add another layer to fruit compote or sauce. Or, make beer
the star – drop a scoop of ice cream into a glass of imperial stout, and
voila, dessert! Beer Suggestions: sweet stout, doppelbock, fruit
beer.<br />
<br />
<div style="color: red;">
<b><span class="text2">A Few Dishes Prepared with Beer</span></b></div>
<ul>
<li class="text2"><i>Roast pork loin with apples and cherry ale </i></li>
<li class="text7"><i> Duck glazed with doppelbock</i></li>
<li class="text2"><i> Roast salmon with witbier cream sauce</i></li>
<li class="text7"><i>Grilled steak marinated in red ale and green peppercorns</i></li>
<li><span class="text2"><i>Roast chicken with dried apricots and weizenbock sauce</i></span><i><br /> </i></li>
<li class="text7"><i>Steamed scallops in witbier</i></li>
<li class="text2"><i> Gingerbread brown ale cake</i></li>
<li class="text7"><i>Chocolate imperial stout truffles, dusted with powdered black malt</i></li>
<li class="text2"><i> Barley wine walnut ice cream </i></li>
</ul>
<br />
-- by Randy Mosher - "Tasting Beer" Brew Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13694356776842369504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194123451942449096.post-4007681766399032332011-08-04T07:38:00.002-04:002011-08-04T08:40:55.217-04:00Samuel Smith Nut Brown Ale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtsNl2VaBPmqxerunTsocLF3tfz1F6cHoabRTlyqyhFlA2sjh3fI-ZXRgcQ0oK8gLLzOnyEoxLhyphenhyphenrS8bXnXv0Cl-4lsSturRp2fehtXKzk2IWzIhHSxdid4tIuBSZQv7JjVj9FntGFpOi/s1600/Nut+Brown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtsNl2VaBPmqxerunTsocLF3tfz1F6cHoabRTlyqyhFlA2sjh3fI-ZXRgcQ0oK8gLLzOnyEoxLhyphenhyphenrS8bXnXv0Cl-4lsSturRp2fehtXKzk2IWzIhHSxdid4tIuBSZQv7JjVj9FntGFpOi/s1600/Nut+Brown.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="color: red;">Reviewed By: </b>Rick S.<br />
<b style="color: red;">Style:</b> English Brown Ale<br />
<b style="color: red;">State/Country:</b> England<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">ABV:</span> </span>5.0%<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Serving Type:</span> 12 oz Bottle<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Look:</span> 9.5<br />
Deep copper color, thick creamy head with great lacing. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Smell:</span> 10<br />
Toffee, caramel, sweet malt, butterscotch, apples and hay<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Taste:</span><span style="color: red;"> </span>9.5<br />
Up Front: Mild hops and caramel, with nuts and sweet malt in the middle, and a mineral character in the long finish<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Mouthfeel:</span> 9<br />
Medium body with low-medium carbonation, and a dry finish<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Drinkability</span><span style="color: red;">:</span> 10<br />
Amazingly smooth and mellow! <br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">Overall Score:</span> </span>9.6<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;"><br />Value: </span></span>10<br />
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.96<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Overall Impression:</span><br />
This is the classic Norther English Brown Ale! It is smooth, warm
nutty, and it has the signature butterscotch and mineral character that
Samuel Smith beers are known for. It simply does not get better than
this! As it was with their Taddy Porter, this was like revisiting a
long lost friend. I love Samuel Smith beers and I will be drinking them
often.Brew Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13694356776842369504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194123451942449096.post-24704734501137257272011-08-04T06:38:00.000-04:002011-08-04T06:43:20.260-04:00Cigar City Maduro<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwUEV_nT2RrutupgPZTkrU9-1kmup15RZzwmjtBWqXenygVK0uYBNnKyXpXeNLA_2J00WxhjPOYtUFa6odBU6FaALRwlt2gCCmSsuoS3GGuPZ30UPoFgtF-crTL5WLaQ-kcAnHwdo_RPY/s1600/Cigar+City+Maduro+Brown+Ale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwUEV_nT2RrutupgPZTkrU9-1kmup15RZzwmjtBWqXenygVK0uYBNnKyXpXeNLA_2J00WxhjPOYtUFa6odBU6FaALRwlt2gCCmSsuoS3GGuPZ30UPoFgtF-crTL5WLaQ-kcAnHwdo_RPY/s1600/Cigar+City+Maduro+Brown+Ale.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="color: red;">Reviewed By: </b>Rick S.<br />
<b style="color: red;">Style:</b> American Brown Ale<br />
<b style="color: red;">State/Country:</b> Florida<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">ABV:</span> </span>5.5%<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Serving Type:</span> 12 oz Bottle<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Look:</span> 8.5 <br />
Chestnut brown color, thick light brown head with nice lacing. <br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Smell:</span> 9.5<br />
Chocolate, caramel, roasted malt, butterscotch, and an interesting herbal/minty hop aroma. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Taste:</span><span style="color: red;"> </span>9<br />
Up Front: Caramel and sweet malt, balanced by the hops in the middle, and finishing with pleasant nuttiness. There is also a lingering roasted flavor...and it hangs out for a while.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Mouthfeel:</span> 9<br />
Light body with medium carbonation, and oily finish from the oats<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Drinkability</span><span style="color: red;">:</span> 8.5<br />
Highly quaffable! <br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">Overall Score:</span> </span>8.9<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;"><br />Value: </span></span>9<br />
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.96<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Overall Impression:</span><br />
This beer has an insanely good aroma...one of the best I've experienced in a brown ale. I wanted to say that I faintly detected fine cigars in the aroma and flavor, but I think that was my imagination. While I initially loved the roasted flavors, they wore on me as I drank it. Otherwise I would have given this a 10 for flavor, a 9 for drinkability, and a 9.2 overall. Hey, an 8.9 is still great!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Food Pairing:</span><br />
The next time I enjoy this will be with some authentic BBQ, the food that American Brown Ale was made for! Because of the extra sweetness of this particular beer, it would even do well with BBQ sauce.Brew Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13694356776842369504noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194123451942449096.post-89571868036154394132011-08-04T06:32:00.013-04:002011-08-17T18:38:24.188-04:00Brooklyn Brown Ale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgr2gXgbjVC07mcomSSbJxy1pf3Y-_0M5Z2DEhveu6lDxtghmRvHgqcuEM4g4Cb9k-DBtCRR5RDiO5SIzU0DSKcRSdbpql_ju2qpI8IITJtcF9Cn_Uo2K7_zkTFCzFoS76nJLK0fqgGL7j/s1600/BBA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgr2gXgbjVC07mcomSSbJxy1pf3Y-_0M5Z2DEhveu6lDxtghmRvHgqcuEM4g4Cb9k-DBtCRR5RDiO5SIzU0DSKcRSdbpql_ju2qpI8IITJtcF9Cn_Uo2K7_zkTFCzFoS76nJLK0fqgGL7j/s1600/BBA.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="color: red;">Reviewed By: </b>Rick S.<br />
<b style="color: red;">Style:</b> American Brown Ale<br />
<b style="color: red;">State/Country:</b> New York<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">ABV:</span> </span>5.6%<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Serving Type:</span> 12 oz Bottle<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Look:</span> 8.5<br />
Reddish brown color, light brown head with decent lacing. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Smell:</span> 8.5<br />
Chocolate, caramel, and mild citrus hops<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Taste:</span><span style="color: red;"> </span>8.5<br />
Hops up front, giving way to caramel and chocolate in the middle, with warm nutty in finish<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Mouthfeel:</span> 8.5<br />
Light body with medium carbonation, and dry finish<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Drinkability</span><b><span style="color: red;">:</span></b> 9<br />
Highly Quaffable! <br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">Overall Score:</span> </span>8.6
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;"><br />Value: </span></span>9.5<br />
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.78<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Overall Impression:</span><br />
Brooklyn Brown Ale is the original American Brown Ale. The recipe has been modified over time to create greater depth of flavor, but it is still true to form. Although there are many ABA's out there with more intense flavors, like Cigar City Maduro, there is still something to be said for a mellow, smooth, and balanced version like this one.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Food Pairing:</span><br />
This beer is awesome with steak, pork, grilled meats &amp; veggies, and BBQ...just go easy on the sauce.Brew Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13694356776842369504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194123451942449096.post-39506959803024389802011-08-04T06:21:00.001-04:002011-08-17T18:38:58.886-04:00Brooklyn Lager<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0Epx8CUoYRhYgSaAqRvRa7zpcmh4d4qXEwRNSUEPfVzfRecGL9XPJaM2A5NtuNvvRnxN4-Vq9KAq5K_PtddRRqdfo2KefLM3b9rbtpcTBXFtg0hXQxJAPGF8k5B1kyIZ7DuBR6ypY7p-/s1600/Brooklyn+Lager.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0Epx8CUoYRhYgSaAqRvRa7zpcmh4d4qXEwRNSUEPfVzfRecGL9XPJaM2A5NtuNvvRnxN4-Vq9KAq5K_PtddRRqdfo2KefLM3b9rbtpcTBXFtg0hXQxJAPGF8k5B1kyIZ7DuBR6ypY7p-/s1600/Brooklyn+Lager.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="color: red;">Reviewed By: </b>Rick S.<br />
<b style="color: red;">Style:</b> Vienna Lager<br />
<b style="color: red;">State/Country:</b> New York<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">ABV:</span> </span>5.2%<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Serving Type:</span> 12oz. Bottle<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Look:</span> 8.5<br />
Light amber color, very clear, with a fluffy white head and nice lacing<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Smell:</span> 8.5<br />
Piney and floral hops, biscuit malt<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Taste:</span><span style="color: red;"> </span>8.5<br />
Lots of hops up front, giving way to sweet malt, and finishing with biscuit malt, caramel and a touch of hops <br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Mouthfeel:</span> 8.5<br />
Medium body with medium-high carbonation and a dry finish<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Drinkability</span><b><span style="color: red;">:</span></b> 9<br />
Lagers tend to have high drinkability and this one is not exception! <br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">Overall Score:</span> </span>8.6<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;"><br />
Value: </span></span>9<br />
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.78<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Overall Impression:</span><br />
An outstanding example of Vienna Lager. There are not really a lot of good commercial examples of this style, which was all but extinct except in Mexico prior to the Craft Beer revolution. Sam Adams Boston Lager would be one good example, and I as much as I like it on tap, I prefer this version. Brooklyn Lager is the benchmark for the style.Brew Jerseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13694356776842369504noreply@blogger.com0