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Celebration of Spring (Boa’s Beer Sampling Series Session 15)

Posted by BoaBeerBlog on March 30, 2011

Session 15 of the Boa Beer Sampling Series, a Celebration of Spring, was held on March 26, 2011. I was ready to break free of winter – from both the cold weather and the heavy brews.

I love the month of March because it features St. Patrick’s Day, the arrival of spring and warmer weather, and my favorite sporting event of the year – March Madness. So I made plans to celebrate spring, b-ball, and beer in the Boa Biergarten.

I was really excited about the beer menu I lined up, which featured the handiwork of three different home brewers – Rich, Virgil, and David. Plus, I selected some interesting seasonal craft beer for our drinking enjoyment.

I was disappointed, however, in the weather forecast for the beer tasting. With highs only in the mid-40s, the open air Biergarten would have to wait. Although I had to move things indoors to the attached beer hall, it didn’t dampen our spring spirit – the flowers were still blooming, the basketball was still bouncing, the fire bowl was blazing (for anyone who wanted to brave the elements), and the beer was still flowing!

The Beer Menu

Falling between winter, with its heavy winter warmers, and summer, with its light wheat beers, spring is a flexible beer drinking season. Spring beers span the styles – 11 styles were offered in this beer tasting.

  1. Magic Hat Vinyl Lager, South Burlington, Vermont (5.1%)
    Vinyl sails in on her shining wings as the spinning sun returns. She is the season-shifter, bursting from her cocoon to sing the ancient song of vernal yearning and to summon spring’s sweet green return. Her metamorphosis becomes our own. Her thirsts are shared by all. Drink in her mysterious elixir as the revolution blooms again. An easy-drinking Amber Lager from Magic Hat Brewing Company.
  2. Clown Shoes Clementine, Ipswich, Massachusetts (6.0%)
    Clementine is a Witbier conceived in a dream, in the middle of a blistering beat-down of a day. Hazy in appearance and healthily carbonated, it utilizes Chambly yeast to energetically shape its wheat malt base. Incorporated in the brewing process is clementine, sweet orange peel, a hint of coriander, and Summit hops, which together smack that mean day upside the head with a refreshing clown shoe.
  3. St. Patty-whacker Stout, RAW Brewing, Washington, D.C. (4.5%)
    This is a dry Irish “cream” stout that will have you shouting “Shore ‘n begorrah!”  Brewed with 4 different specialty malts, this beer features a creamy almost nitrogen-infused head and ruby-black color.  Your palette will be “whacked” by the chocolate and roasted malts followed by a soothing, velvety finish.  Also goes well with whiskey for Irish car bombs (perform at your own risk). “Thirst is a shameless disease so here’s to a shameful cure.” Brewed by Rich Wysocki.
  4. Simcoe Spring Ale, Peak Organic Brewing Company, Portland, Maine (5.4%)
    Organic beer is made without the aid of chemicals or genetically modified organisms.  This brew is a classic Pale Ale, single-hopped and dry-hopped with Simcoe hops. The beer has a restrained malt profile, so the hops really pop, like flora in the spring.
  5. ‘Darkness’ Irish Stout, Brewed by David Rabine, Ellicot City, Maryland (~5.0%)
    This is a traditional Irish Stout with a smooth finish closer to a Murphy’s than a Guinness (at least the type of Guinness we get here in the States, I hear it is better at the source).  This black brew features full body taste with a tone of chocolate and roasted yumminess.  This stout has a creamy/malty flavor with a dry finish and goes down easy.  The yeast was a substitute due to availability (an Irish Ale versus the recommended London Ale strain) but I’m very happy with the result.  This could be the base recipe for future stout experiments such as chocolate or vanilla bean. The recipe was found online at beerrecipes.org.
  6. Harpoon Celtic Ale, Boston, Massachusetts (5.4%)
    This Irish Red Ale is Harpoon’s salute to St. Patrick. The brew features a deep amber color, with a malty and complex flavor.  Celtic Ale has a moderate hop finish that, along with the generous amounts of malt, makes for a medium bodied, smooth, rich beer.
  7. AARSH Imperial Red Ale, Clipper City Brewing Company, Baltimore, Maryland (7.0%)
    The Mutiny Fleet showcases unusual beer styles. These are the biggest and boldest Heavy Seas beers and are produced in small batches. This imperial version of an Irish Red Ale is brewed with three kinds of grain then pulled through a pot of gold with two kinds of hops. Slainte!
  8. Brewer’s Best IPA, Brewed by Virgil Rabine, Ellicot City, Maryland (~5.0%)
    This caramel-colored IPA is boldly hopped with ample carbonation.  This brew sports a tangy fruit flavor with a hoppy finish that bites you back.  This beer spawned from an “everything you need in a kit”:  Brewer’s Best IPA.  The description from the box:  “Big, bold and beautiful. Plenty of Crystal and Victory malt flavors, topped with tons of hops.”
  9. Aprihop, Dogfish Head Brewing Company, Milton, Delaware (7.0%)
    Aprihop is a fruit beer for hopheads! It is an American IPA brewed with Pilsner and Crystal malts massively hopped in the continuous fashion. The flavor is complimented by the addition of Apricots.
  10. Chatoe Rogue First Growth Creek Ale, Rogue Ales, Newport, Oregon (6.3%)
    Rogue Ales made this beer with its own home-grown hops and barley – the GYO on the label is a Rogue term for Grow Your Own. This brew features a malty aroma, dark mahogany-brown color, and rich, malty sweetness that finishes dry on top of a lush cherry flavor.
  11. Gordon Biersch Maibock, Palo Alto, California (7.1%)
    Maibocks are customarily served during spring festivals in the month of May, but we can’t wait that long for spring.  The Maibock style tends to be lighter in color and less malty than a traditional Bock, and may be hoppier and more bitter, but still with a relatively low hop flavor.  Gordon Biersch Maibock achieves its rich malty flavor from dark roasted caramel malt, and lots of it. The rich flavor from the malt complements the moderate level of bitterness to create a perfect balance.
  12. Monk’s Blood, 21st Amendment Brewery, San Francisco, California (8.3%)
    Monk’s Blood is a dark Belgian-style Strong Ale that is aged on oak.  The recipe for this brew includes dark Belgian candi sugar, cinnamon, vanilla bean, and dried black mission figs.

Click to download the PDF version of the Spring 2011 Beer Tasting Menu.

The beer descriptions were provided by breweries/brewers.

Attending: Lincoln and Ariana, Rich, Elizabeth and Andrew, David, Christine and family, Virgil and Lucy, Matt and Jenny, Beth, Emily and Benjamin, Kristen and family, Miles, Tara and family, Monroe, Carlyn, and family.

Thanks to the home brewers!

Posted in Beer Tasting, Boa’s Beer Sampling Series | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Celebrating the World Cup (Boa’s Beer Sampling Series Session 14)

Posted by BoaBeerBlog on June 28, 2010

Session 14 of the Boa Beer Sampling Series celebrated the World Cup, the premier sporting event on Planet Earth. The beer tasting was held on June 12 in my biergarten, and featured the U.S. versus England match on two flat screen TVs. The biergarten has recently been upgraded and now has patio room seating at a new oak bar, with a perfect view of the TV mounted on the brick wall of the house.  Outdoors under the umbrellas, there was stadium-style seating and another TV for USA Soccer fans ready for some World Cup soccer and…beer!

In the 2010 World Cup, the United States faced England for the first time since a famous upset 60 years ago. In that spirit, the beer tasting featured U.S. vs. England beer battles, along with brews inspired by some of the 32 nations represented in the World Cup. The 12 beers on the menu spanned 12 different styles, and 5 home brews were presented.

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2010 World Cup Beer Tasting Menu

As the U.S. vs. England match kicks off, we’ll have our first beer battle of the day.

  • American Amber Ale, Rogue Ales, Newport, Oregon (5.1%)
    U-S-A, U-S-A! This American Ale is tawny in color with a coffee aroma. Look for a generous use of hops, delicate roasted malt accent, and a smooth finish, just like a Landon Donovan goal.
  • Newcastle Brown Ale, Gateshead, England (4.7%)
    The unique golden brown color is the result of combining two malts: English Pale and Dark Caramel.  Newkie Brown is lightly hopped, and the blend of light and dark malts creates a smooth flavor for easy drinking. Served from a mini keg.

On to the homebrewers, and our second U.S. vs. England beer battle.

  • Shane and Sherri’s Hefeweizen, Riverdale, Maryland (5.0%)
    This is the first homebrew Shane and Sherri have made — a Bavarian Hefeweizen described as a medium bodied, effervescent ale, and it tastes like a liquid multigrain bread. Its slightly low carbonation level surprisingly adds to the ease of drinking and smooth nutty taste. Perfect as a refreshing summer sip.
  • Rabine’s Half-Bass Ale, Ellicott City, Maryland (5.0%)
    Modeled after Bass Ale, an English Bitter, David Rabine’s version is dangerously drinkable. Lightly brown in color and light in flavor. The Irish Moss finishing makes for a smooth-drinking summer beer.
  • Rabine’s Sierra Madre Pale Ale, Ellicott City, Maryland (5.6%)
    The target beer, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, is quite hoppy, and this recipe called for a lot of hops. So the resulting beer is VERY hoppy. The beer has a golden hue, quite impressive for a homebrew, but the hops are a might powerful in this one. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is an acquired taste and this attempt is even more so — not for the faint of heart.

Next up, beers inspired by world soccer powers, including two more homebrews…

  • Birra d’Azzurri (Beer of the Blues), RAW Brewing, Washington, D.C. (5.1%)
    A Belgian-style Blueberry White Ale brewed with American hops to celebrate the 2010 Italy World Cup team, the Azzurri (and surely not for Les Bleus  of France).
  • Tilburg’s Dutch Brown Ale, Brewery de Koningshoeven, Tilburg, Netherlands (5.2%)
    This brew is an interesting interpretation of a Belgian Dark Ale. The orange color of this beer reminds of the Oranje – the Dutch national football team, also know as Clockwork Orange.  Creamy mouthfeel, with a smooth flavor that boasts of malts and roasted barley, followed by a fruity finish.
  • Xingu, Cervejaria Sul Brasileira, Jacareí – São Paulo Brazil (4.6%)
    An opaque, full-bodied Schwarzbier (black lager) with mild bitterness. Extravagant aromas. Rich and creamy, well balanced sweet notes and hints of tartness with exceptional mouthfeel, in two words: Black Silk.
  • Samuel Adams Long Shot Lemon Pepper Saison, Boston Beer Company, Boston, MA (6.4%)
    Saison, French for season, is a beer style originating in the French-speaking region of Belgium. This flavorful, refreshing, light-bodied beer is brewed with Grains of Paradise, a tropical spice. The peppery flavor is complemented by a slightly sweet aroma with hints of vanilla and citrus, making this beer the perfect cool down to a hot summer day. This Long Shot beer was selected to symbolize the United States’ odds of winning the World Cup.
  • Budesliga Bock, RAW Brewing, Washington, D.C. (8.3%)
    A German Bock-style ale brewed with brown sugar for that extra “kick” to celebrate the 2010 Germany World Cup team.

We’ll end with the final U.S. vs. England beer battle of the day.

  • Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout, Tadcaster, England (5.0%)
    Champion of the Washington Post’s 2010 Beer Madness Competition.  This beer is almost opaque, with an unusually silky texture and complex, velvet palate. There is a bitter finish, symbolic of the mood in England at the conclusion of the U.S vs. England World Cup match.
  • Hop Wallop, Victory Brewing Company, Downingtown, PA (8.5%)
    Selected for the beer tasting in prediction of a U.S. victory over England, Hop Wallop is a fragrant experience that delights the taste buds. Pure gold of color, this ale offers its heady bounty of hops to the adventurous of taste. Bold, bracing and surprisingly refreshing for a strong ale.

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Click to download the PDF version of the June 2010 Beer Tasting Menu.

The beer descriptions were provided by breweries/brewers, and include my own personal touch to reflect the occasion.

Attending: Rich, Susan, Elizabeth and Andrew, David, Christine and family, Javier and Maryellen, Terry and Cindy, Beth, Emily and Benjamin, Kristen, Miles, Tara and family, David, Lori and family, Greg, Shane and Sherri.

Thanks to the home brewers!

Posted in Beer Tasting, Boa’s Beer Sampling Series | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Boa’s Beer Sampling Series, Session 13: Decemberfest

Posted by BoaBeerBlog on December 20, 2009

Session 13 of Boa’s Beer Sampling Series was held on December 5, 2009.  The session was dubbed Decemberfest, for a celebration of winter beers.

Winter seasonals represent a centuries-old tradition of concocting strong, full-flavored brews to offset the gloom and cold weather of winter.  Dense and strong, rich and opaque, winter brews embody the blustery season.  Booming with flavor, they seize the mouth and slap around the taste buds.  Winter seasonals are typified by the classic “winter warmer” but they do not fit into one style, and 11 different styles were featured in this beer tasting.
[Beer descriptions provided by breweries/brewers].

THE BEER MENU

1.    Magic Hat Howl, South Burlington, Vermont (4.6%)
Born of dark and cold and snow in the marrow of the northeast’s longest night, HOWL comes in on wailing winds with winter-weary eyes burning holes in sunless shadows. In its darkened depths our inner voids are warmed. A Black Lager from Magic Hat Brewing Company.

2.    Winter White, Bells Brewery, Kalamazoo, Michigan (5%)
A Wheat Ale brewed with American Wheat and a proprietary blend of Hefe and classic Belgian-style yeasts. A refreshing winter alternative created from the subtle fusion of two classic flavors.

3.    Rabine’s Altbier, Ellicot City, Maryland (4.5%)
Inspired by his local brewpub, Ellicott City Brewing, where he enjoys the Dunkel and Alt beers, home brewer David Rabine went looking for a recipe for a drinkable German style beer.  He combined the best parts of two recipes to create this clean-tasting ale, perfect for sociable drinking.  According to David, “Any beer that has Irish Moss in the finishing stages of the boil tends to be an easy drinker and this one doesn’t disappoint. I have no idea why that is…the moss smells like fish food.” Aged about two months.

4.    Winter Solstice, Anderson Valley Brewing Company, Boonville, California (6.9%)
From the first sip of Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale, your senses will be aroused with the vision of a glowing fire, warming the hearth and home, as gently drifting snow flakes silently blanket the trees outside. Each lingering sip will gently warm your soul with thoughts of family and friends, gathering around the table for a feast. Luscious, creamy, smooth, and warming, this medium bodied ale is brewed with Caramel and crystal malts to give it just a hint of sweetness, then paired with our private blend of holiday spice. A hearty and spicy brew with a deep amber hue and a smooth finish.

5.    RAW’s Molasses Wheat, Washington, D.C. (6.1%)
While not a classic winter style, you’re sure to warm up to this brew. Bottle aged, this beer has a mild hoppiness with the smoothness of a wheat beer and the slight sweetness of molasses at the finish.

6.    Flying Dog K-9 Cruiser, Frederick, Maryland (6.4%)
K-9 Cruiser is an English Strong Ale — a dark, sweet and malty winter warmer that will captivate any adventurous craft brew drinker. A true Flying Dog original, K-9 Cruiser is the perfect brew to warm you up in those cold winter months.

7.    RAW’s Cherry Pale Ale, Washington, D.C. (7.0%)
This new batch of a popular RAW offering was brewed using a modified version of the original recipe. This ruby-colored version has a stronger hop bitterness, flavor, and aroma with more evident notes of cherry.

8.    Old Man Winter, Southern Tier Brewing Company, Lakewood, NY (7.2%)
With the onset of winter, the brewer’s mind turns to providing warmth. For our winter seasonal, we offer a rich and complex amalgam of hops and barley that will put the feeling back in your toes and lift your spirits above the snow. The American Strong Ale throws a deep and inviting hue with a thickness that clings to the glass and the warmth of an open flame. Because of its high alcohol content, Old Man is a heady brew that encourages sipping and pondering its essential richness. Drink it fresh now, or cellar a few bottles to see how this old man becomes wiser with age.

9.    Yule Tide, Clipper City Brewing Company, Baltimore, Maryland (10%)
The Mutiny Fleet is the newest addition to the Heavy Seas crew of beers. Big flavor in big bottles, these beers are produced in very small batches. Yule Tide is a strong Belgian Tripel with a slightly sweet and complex malty flavor.  Its spicy flavor comes from our unique blend of Trappist yeast and Belgian candy sugar making it both aromatic and flavorful.  Celebrate the holidays pyrate style!

10.    Rabine’s Vanilla Stout, Ellicot City, Maryland (5.5%)
Home brewer David Rabine was looking for a smooth-drinking Winter Stout when he stumbled upon this recipe.  According to David, “I used only used half the vanilla bean called for in the recipe (two instead of four whole beans). I was attempting to keep the sweetness down.  The vanilla flavor is there but it’s subtle so you can have more than one in a sitting.”  Ingredients come from Columbia’s Maryland Home Brew store; aged a little over two months since second racking.  Dark and smooth with a background hint of vanilla.

11.    Rogue Chocolate Stout, Newport, Oregon (6.3%)
This American Stout is ebony in color with a rich creamy head. The mellow flavor of oats, chocolate malts and real chocolate are balanced perfectly with the right amount of hops for a bitter-sweet finish.

12.    Grateful Ed’s My Wife’s No Longer Stout, Arlington, VA (10%)
This home brew from Grateful Ed’s Brewhouse was brewed to celebrate the birth of his child, and has been aging for four years.  Imperial Stouts are the king of stouts and boast high alcohol content and plenty of malt character. Look for low to moderate levels of carbonation with huge roasted, chocolate, and burnt malt flavors.  Suggestions of dark fruit may be evident. Hop character can vary from none to balanced to aggressive.

Attending: Rich, Susan, Elizabeth, Andrew, David, Christine, Lincoln, Arianna, Javier, Maryellen, Christian, Ed, Elaine and family, Terry and Cindy, Beth, Emily and Benjamin, Kristen, Karl and Ceila.

Thanks to the home brewers!  I hope everyone enjoyed it!

Posted in Beer Tasting, Boa’s Beer Sampling Series, Winter Brews | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

 
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