Review: Brooklyn Pilsner



Purchased from:
Whole Foods, Fair Lakes

ABV:
5.1%

Type:
Pilsner-type lager

Color:
golden/amber hue that is quite attractive

Aroma:
citrus-y, sweet, spice

Taste:
floral and spice hop notes at the beginning making way for citrus and hints of apple; crisp, not bitter with very slight malt backbone and ends dry

Overall:
I picked up a pack of these on a whim since I was in the mood for something lighter and refreshing and this beer fit the bill.  I had never had this before but have had Brooklyn Lager which I liked.  Also because my sister and cousins live in Brooklyn so I felt like I have a connection to the brewery... or something like that.  Anyway, drank this out of my Sam Adams glass and took a whiff and it was very enticing.  The floral notes were prevalent in the aroma, setting you up for what is to come.  When you drink though, you get mild hops, crisp and refreshing water, and some fizziness from the carbonation.  The hop flavors linger a bit and reveal light citrus that reminded me of green apple sometimes.  Pretty interesting.  Hardly any malt flavors as expected on this pilsner.  The beer is somewhat dry and leaves you wanting to take another sip.  The Brooklyn Pilsner is quite drinkable and smooth and did the job for a refreshing beer but due to the dryness and lack of robustness in the taste, it makes the beer just a decent selection.

3/5

The Perfect Pint?


So you've seen the commercials, talking about how Boston Brewing Company has created a highly technical, seemingly well thought-out design for a beer glass.  Different than your typical pint glass or tall mug, this glass purports to "elevate the craft beer drinking experience" and that they have "create[d] a glass that offers beer lovers a full sensory drinking experience".  They've optimized it for drinking Sam Adams Boston Lager but the concept, to me, probably applies to most beers.  Here are the ways in which the glass hopes to accomplish delivering a superior taste, color and aroma when you drink your brew (this is from the manual they sent with the glasses).

  1. Bead inside the rim to create turbulence and release taste and aroma as beer enters the mouth - I thought there would be actual beading around the rim of the glass but this is actually a raised lip.  
  2. Narrowing the glass at the top retains hop aroma and head
  3. Rounded shape collects aromas
  4. Laser etching at the bottom creates bubbles for constant aroma release
  5. Outward lip delivers beer to front of the tongue where sweetness (malt) is tasted
  6. Thinner walls and rounded shape help maintain proper beer temperature longer
Apparently they've been out for a while but I finally got my hands on a set and was able to compare with the regular pint glass.  So - does this glass live up to the expectations?  Does their research and technical knowledge of beer enhance the drinking experience?  Do each of those 6 technical aspects do what they are supposed to?  In a nutshell, the glass didn't blow me away with its flavor boosting power, but compared to a regular glass, it definitely brings out the flavors of the beer consistently as you drink and overall works well.  They are a little expensive but I would recommend buying some if you can find them on sale or if you are getting serious about your drink.  Read on for details...

To Arthur!


Yesterday marked the 250th anniversary of Guinness.  250 years ago, Arthur Guinness signed a 9000 year lease on a brewery at St. James' Gate in Dublin, Ireland.  Since then, it has become one of the most popular beers in the world and a staple for any beer drinker.  They released a 250th anniversary Guinness that differs in taste and brewing methodology than their regular Stout.  If I find it and try it, I will post a review. 

So if you are out and about, go get a Guinness and raise one to Arthur!

Italy: Rome Recap



My wife and I went to Rome and Naples this past summer.  Now italian food is probably my favorite type of food and there was definitely no shortage of it.  I hate tomatoes but I have to say I wouldn't mind eating caprese salad (mozzarella, tomato, and basil) for lunch 'most' days if I lived in Italy.  Their pastas are generally light and delicate rather than the rich, salty food you get in the US (aka Olive Garden, Romano's Macaroni Grill).  The thing that stuck out most to me about the food in Italy was that each dish's ingredients blended together into a cohesive flavor and at the same time, stood out on their own so that you could TASTE each component.

So what does this have to do with beer?  My theory: countries that have really flavorful foods generally have light tasting beers which complement and enhance the flavors of food rather than the beer being a focal point in some other cases.  Think about it, Germany and England - crappy food: really rich, hearty beers that could be meals themselves; Asian, Mexican, Italian - great food: light, refreshing beers that make you want to eat more.

Now of course this isn't an end all be all rule, but it is a trend in my experiences.  Which leads me to introducing the beers I had in Italy, most of which did exactly as I mention, clear the palate to eat more food, and refresh the mind after a long day of walking around and viewing the achievements and ultimate epic fail of ancient Rome.

Seasonal Brewings

The boss "made" us go to happy hour last Friday and as I walked out into the hallway, encountered my co-workers asking where we should go. I tried playing it cool by saying "Dogfish, but I'm down with whatever" meanwhile hoping in the back of mind no one would have beef with the suggestion. Basically, the way our happy hours work out, we either go get cheap Miller/Coors/Bud Lights or we go to Dogfish Head and enjoy some quality beverages while unwinding from another long, tedious week. Usually, it's the former, and well, honestly, we deserve better than that.



So we head on over to the DFH Alehouse once again. Excitedly, I turn around as we enter the bar to see what offerings they have. "Punkin... Ale"?!!?? Apparently, the fall season is upon us! My eyes widen and I know exactly what I'm getting. I order it and take a big whiff. Pure joy as memories flood my mind of Thanksgivings past. I'm a huge pumpkin pie fan and after hearing some of the hype about this beer, it truly did not disappoint. On first sip, the beer just completely hit me with the creamy, nutmeggy, pumpkiny, buttery, pie-crusty, vanilla-y goodness that comes with your first bit of pumpkin pie with ice cream on top. Yes, it was that good. Subsequent intakes did not yield as strong a flavor as the first sip but that's good because it was not overpowering in anyway but just reminded you of that initial burst of flavor. So good; will look for this in the store in the coming months.

Next on the menu was another seasonal brew from DFH called "Aprihop".

Review: Samuel Adams Octoberfest 2009


Purchased from: 
Whole Foods, Fair Lakes

ABV: 
5.4%

Type: 
Lager

Color: 
Beautiful dark amber color.

Smell:
 Sweet malt on the bottom and flowery bouquet with some alcohol fragrance.

Taste:
 Malty initial which fades fast. Hops take over and linger to the end but the blend of sweet and bitter remain.

Overall:
 So my Renaissance Festival experience wasn't too far off with this beer. The Sam Adams Octoberfest is a pleasant beer resulting in a sweet, dry flavor with slight bitterness. Due to the use of Noble hops, it does have a different, less harsh bite than other beer and the use of the 5 different malts makes the beer overall pretty sweet tasting.  As seen from a lack of a thick head, the Octoberfest is actually very light and once the flavor fades, it leaves a clean mouthfeel. However, the beer doesn't taste robust enough and rather, tastes "thin". In the end, the beer is pretty smooth and drinkable but I would have liked a little more complexity to the flavor. Unfortunate because I really wanted to like this beer.

2.5/5
Ok, this post has nothing to do with beer, but beer's best buddy, the burger. I was trolling one of the forums I frequent and saw that someone was recommending this place in Bound Brook, NJ (next to the town I grew up in) that serves amazing burgers. This guy that was posting claimed that Five Guys got nothin' on this place. The place is called 25 burgers. I've never even heard of this place. But look at the menu... and then look at the pictures... and then look at the $5 menu... and then tell me that you don't want to take the 45 minutes off the NJ Turnpike on your way to NYC/Boston to go and taste this. Expand the post for my plan of attack.



So here's my plan - everytime I go to a new place, I always get the simplest thing on the menu before trying their specialties, especially when it comes to burgers. If they can't get the plain burger right, then the place is not worth it. So next time I go home, I will go there, order a plain burger, and judge for myself and let you all know what's up.

All you need to know is this:





Ah Labor Day weekend. Had a good time this weekend relaxing and having fun with some friends - and of course, drinking a few beers! First up was the Maryland Renaissance Festival (Renny Fest). You get all the campiness that you'd expect: turkey legs, miscellaneous meats on stakes/sticks/lances, fat guys posing as knights in shining armor, and impossible carnival games (those crossbows do NOT shoot straight). In addition to exceeding the expectations for festival cliches, the Renny Fest offered a decent selection of beer. On tap was Sam Adams Octoberfest and Cream Stout, Killians, Coors Light, and Hardcore Cider. I was excited about the 2 SA offerings and mainly sampled those during my afternoon in the mediaeval times.

Sunday, the merriment continued as my wife and I went back to Rustico for the second time. This restaurant has a HUGE beer selection with about 15 beers on tap and a whole book of bottles. Food is better than the usual new american and their woodfired pizzas are quite good with a tasty dough. They sort their beer by flavor (crisp, hoppy, roast...). I was in the mood for something hoppy and crisp after the cream stouts I had on Saturday and tried the Southern Tier Harvest Ale and Dale's Pale Ale. Both delicious with pizza and fries.

Impressions of all beers after the link.


Review: Abita Turbodog


Purchased from: 
Whole Foods, Fair Lakes

Type: 
Brown Ale

ABV: 
5.6%

Color: 
Dark brown with a tan head

Smell: 
Bright, hoppy smell with a little chocolate.

Taste: 
Initial hit of bitterness from the hops which dissipate to reveal chocolate, malt and coffee notes. Smooth clean finish with a light aftertaste.

Overall: 
This beer after first drink reminded me of Newcastle Brown Ale in how it hits the palette, with the initial hop hit with the malt soon after. It is a darker brown ale that goes down smooth and somewhat heavy but finishes clean. The chocolate/malt notes really come out after the first gulp but don't linger and actually refreshes the palette. As I drank this beer more, I enjoyed it more. Although, I prefer a lighter beer with my food, I could drink this beer with steak or burgers and I believe it would complement it well. Overall, a solid brew from Abita.  

3/5

More info: Abita Turbodog