May 11, 2009: Downtown Brown

Short post for tonight because I'm frustrated with my computer and would sooner throw it through a window than sit here and write about beer. Tonight's beer is another from Lost Coast Brewery called Downtown Brown. One of the things that I love about this brewery is the interesting artwork that they incorporate into the label of each of their beers. Downtown Brown features a handsome lad in a suit, as seen through the eyes of an artist like Picasso. You can't see this beer on the shelf and not be drawn to it in some way. The bright and vibrant colors just seem to scream out "hey buddy, drink me!", so they way I see it, I had little choice about which beer I would drink tonight. Downtown Brown pours a nice shade of medium brown, with a little hint of red to the discerning eye. Scents of caramel, nuts and sweet malt are apparent right away, and these scents translate well into the flavor of Downtown Brown. Brown ales should be a fine balance of sweet malt and bitter ale flavors, and Downtown Brown has found a pretty good niche in my opinion. This one isn't my favorite beer that Lost Coast Ale has to offer, but if you are into brown ales, you can't go wrong with this one. I paired Downtown Brown with a store bought pizza, and the two complimented each other exceedingly well.

Cheers,
Ian

http://www.lostcoast.com/

P.S. Happy Birthday Dad!

May 10, 2009: Red Rocket Ale

Of all the fifty states in America, the history of California is perhaps one of the most interesting. In the early 1800's, California was the last wild frontier in America. It was a harsh land full of unforgiving wilderness, hostile native and Mexican forces and extremes in weather. In the gritty days when the first settlers braved the perils of California in search Gold, it was a savage land not meant for the faint of heart. Many people are familiar with the state flag of California that proudly sports the image of a grizzly bear, but most people aren't familiar with the story behind the flag. In the 1830's, early American settlers were becoming increasingly frustrated by the policies put forth by general Antonio Lopez De Santa Anna in California which was then still a territory of Mexico. At the urging of famed army major John Fremont, thirty three settlers raised the bear flag in Sonoma and declared themselves a republic, independent of both the Mexican and United States government rule. Shortly thereafter, Fremont returned with American soldiers and claimed the republic to be property of the United States government, before crushing a contingent of Mexican soldiers who had come to reclaim Fort Sutter at the battle of Olompoli. (Ok, maybe crushed isn't the right word considering that only two Mexicans were killed and a handful more were injured, but I prefer my version of history).

Tonight's beer is called Red Rocket Ale, which is brewed by the Bear Republic Brewery. Like the revolt that it was named for, Bear Republic is a craft brewery that plays by their own rules and is known for taking some risks with their brews in order to create a bold and unique beer. The name Red Rocket Ale alone lets the drinker know that this is not your typical red ale. I didn't expect Red Rocket Ale to be surprisingly rich and robust, but this beer was pleasantly surprising for me. I hadn't heard much about Red Rocket Ale before I tried it earlier this evening, but the Bear Republic Brewery has gained a new fan thanks to the strength of this beer. Red Rocket Ale isn't what I would call a textbook red ale, but the combination of grains and malts that are used to brew this beer give it it's own distinctive flavor. I promise, you won't be disappointed by this one.

Cheers!
Ian

http://www.bearrepublic.com

P.S. You've gotta love Bear Republic's slogan "Make beer, not bombs". Classic.

May 9, 2009: Sierra Nevada Porter

Starting your own brewing company is one of the most terrifying decisions that a person could ever make. The initial cost of starting your own brewery is risky enough, and when you combine that with the need to compete against other breweries that have already been well established, it could spell a recipe for disaster. I'm always encouraged when I hear about a success story within the brewing community, and Sierra Nevada has one of the best. Sierra Nevada started out as a home brewing project by two guys Ken Grossman and Paul Camusi. These two guys started their company from scratch, with nothing but a knack for brewing tasty beer and a vision for the future. Today, Sierra Nevada is one of the most successful craft beers in the entire world, with millions of loyal fans who swear by their range of beers. Samuel Adams is the only craft beer in America that has been able to outsell Sierra Nevada, and it's popularity is only increasing as more beer drinkers are becoming aware of the Sierra Nevada brand.

Tonight I'm drinking Sierra Nevada Porter, and it is easy to see why Sierra Nevada has been able to grow from a tiny home brew operation into one America's most respected breweries. Sierra Nevada's bread and butter has long been their classic pale ale, but I wouldn't be surprised if Sierra Nevada Porter one day surpasses it in popularity. As far as porters go, I think you would be hard pressed to find another craft beer that comes close to the quality and taste of Sierra Nevada Porter. The brewers at Sierra Nevada absolutely hit the nail on the head with this one; everything about this beer is done almost flawlessly. Sierra Nevada Porter pours a delicious dark chocolate brown color with a nutty tan colored head. From the first sip, it's an absolute joy to taste the rich, dark flavors of this beer. Porters, like their darker cousin stouts, are made with dark malts and have a very dark, bitter taste that is heaven for some, but hell for others. If you like dark beer, then you should absolutely get your hands on a bottle of Sierra Nevada Porter and see what all the fuss is about!

Cheers,
Ian

http://www.sierranevada.com

May 8, 2009: Newcastle Brown Ale

The city of Newcastle is a very interesting little place tucked away in far northwestern England. People from Newcastle are known commonly as Geordies throughout the British Isles because of the town's ardent support for Kind George in 1745, whom was the successor of the Hanoverian line of monarchs. Newcastle is so far north of the rest of England that they're on a sort of island, so to speak. Even the dialect and accent of Newcastle's natives is completely unique and isolated pretty much to the Tyneside area. Since the Geordies are famous for doing things their own way, it only makes sense that they would come up with a beer like Newcastle Brown Ale. I will admit my bias right off the bat and say that Newcastle is probably my absolute favorite macrobrew in the world. In my mind, there really isn't another beer that is produced on the same scale as Newcastle that can match up with it in terms of taste and quality. Newcastle Brown Ale is famous for is toasted, nutty brown color and rich flavor. One thing that catches many people off guard is the surprisingly light taste of a beer that is so dark in color. I've met countless people over the years that were originally put off by the dark brown color of Newcastle, but were won over by the warm taste of this beer. I think that Newcastle Brown Ale is the perfect blend of bitterness, malt and caramel flavors that balance each other out to make one of the best beers that I ever tasted. I wanted to save Newcastle Brown Ale for a rainy day later on in the 365brews project, maybe to use as a slump-buster after a string of really bad beers. I really tried to wait as long as I could, but I love Newcastle so much that I simply couldn't wait any longer. If you've somehow never tried this beer, get to your local grocery store or neighborhood pub and try a pint today.

Cheers,
Ian

http://www.newcastlebrown.com/

May 7, 2009: Weihenstephaner Kristalbier

Last month I tried Weihenstephaner's original hefeweizen, and tonight I'm drinking another of their line of brews called Weihenstephaner Kristalweissbier. That's a mouthful to say and a lot for me to type without misspelling a word, so I'll simply refer to this beer as W.K. for the rest of this post. Kristal weissbiers are paler versions of the classic German weissbiers that are made with malted wheat instead of the traditional malted barley. As a result all weissbiers are top fermented with classifies them as ales, despite the light color and taste of many weissbiers. It's hard to believe that W.K. is considered to be an ale, because this beer is very light and drinkable. Unlike a standard Hefeweizen, Kristall weissbiers like W.K. are not cloudy at all, but instead are remarkably clear due to the filtering process that they undergo before they are finished. W.K. is a great choice for someone who likes the unique and wheaty flavor of hefeweizens but is looking for something a bit lighter. W.K. is one of those beers that is exceptionally crisp and bright, which made it one of the most refreshing beers that I have had in a long time. Flavors of fruit, clove and wheat makes W.K. an interesting beer that almost all beer lovers could grow to love. Just don't be turned off by the strong scent of this beer; the taste of W.K. is surprisingly mild given the bold, fruity scent. This one gets a solid 8 out of 10 in my book, so be sure to try it out if you get a chance.

Prost!
Ian

http://www.brauerei-weihenstephan.de/

May 6, 2009: Miller Lite

Ok, so I have a confession.... I was way more focused on the Lakers game tonight than I was on drinking a beer. I invited some buddies to come over and watch the game, but by the time tip off came, I realize that I didn't have a new beer in the fridge. It's a stupid mistake, I know, but sometimes I get so focused on sports that other things in my life get pushed to the side. Luckily my friends came to the rescue by bringing over a case of Miller Lite. Normally I wouldn't choose to drink a Miller Lite, but desperate times, desperate measures.... you get the idea. Miller Lite is on the short list of beer that are in my opinion almost undrinkable. I scoured my mind to try to think of a beer that I enjoy less than Miller Lite, and the only one that came to mind was Coors Lights. It's not that Miller Lite tastes dicgusting, it's just that Miller Lite doesn't really taste like anything at all. It's like drinking a can of carbonated water with a little malth thrown in. Miller Lite is the epitome of a macrobrew that sacrifices taste and quality in favor of mass production. Take my advice, and only reach for Miller Lite if you're in a huge bind. There are plenty of other light beers out there that have a lot more to offer than Miller Lite does.

Cheers,
Ian

P.S. Go Lakers!!!!!!!!!!!!!


www.MillerLite.com

May 5, 2009: Pacifico

i Hola Mis Amigos !

If Americans are great at one thing, it's gotta be celebrating the holidays of other nations by making them our own a adding as much alcohol as possible. Unlike many of our European counterparts, America is a nation full of people who need an excuse to drink. It's not really socially acceptable in most parts of America to go out on your typical tuesday night and get plastered with your mates. But if you throw in a birthday, holiday or sporting event, well then it's open season! This is why holidays like Cinco De Mayo have become so popular here in the states.

I, for example, have exactly 0% hispanic blood running through my veins. I have no reason to celebrate the victory of the Mexican army over French at Puebla on May 5th, 1862. (No, contrary to popular belief Cinco De Mayo is not the Mexican Independence day, which is actually in September). But you can bet that most years on May 5th I'm bellying up to the bar with the rest of southern California with a margarita on the rocks with no salt. Guilty as charged, I love an excuse to get drunk as much as the next man. However, since I've started the 365brews project my philosophy about drinking has changed a bit. Who says I can't get drunk on a random tuesday for no reason? Who says drinking should be reserved for holidays or sporting events? I've learned that when you feel like having a beer, just get out there and get a freakin' beer. It's not rocket science; if you're a legal, tax paying free American, then you have the right to get beligerantly drunk on any night of the week (as long as you are willing to hire a cab or hunt down a designated driver).

Because of my newfound philosophy about inebriation, I've decided to forego the predictable scenario of visiting some little mexican bar or taquieria for a cerveza. Forget that! I'm still going to celebrate cinco de mayo with a nice cold Pacifico, but I'm going to do it in a pair of pajamas from the comfort of my own home. I know, I know, cervezas aren't really my thing and I've been honest about my dislike for most Mexican style beers right from the get go, but I have to admit that Pacifico is probably the best of the bunch in my opinion. Sure, when you compare Pacifico to other lagers and pilsners it doesn't quite stack up, but that's not what this beer is about.

This is a beer that is constantly getting slammed by other beer nerds for being boring, uninspired, bland or watery, but I'm always a bit baffled by these kinds of reviews for Pacifico. Clearly Pacifico isn't trying to do anything innovative or creative with their beer, because that is not what this beer is about. Pacifico is all about kicking back, throwing a steak on the grill, taking a dip in the pool, and just enjoying a good time. In my humble opinion, there aren't many better party beers than Pacifico because I know I can drink a lot of without getting too full, or getting too sick of the taste. Pacifico won't be my first choice on most occasions, but when the time is absolutely right, there is no better cerveza for the money.



If you like Mexican beers and haven't yet tried this one, smack yourself for being an idiot and try it!

Salud!
Ian