Monthly Archives: October 2009

Ladybug Pale Ale

 

This started as my take on Dogfish Shelter Pale Ale (via BYO).    I recently renamed this – I’ve been experiencing a ton of ladybugs (20+) around my work desk area.   Nutty (walnut) and toasty character to this brew.    Firm hop bitterness but not overdone. Beer Label - Ladybug Pale Ale

Ingredients:

11.25 lbs Pale Malt
6.5 oz Crystal 120L
3 oz Amber Malt

Hops:

0.55 oz Warrior 16.0% AA 60 Min
0.55 oz Glacier 5.5% AA 10 Min
0.55 oz Simcoe 13.0% AA 0 Min

Yeast:

WLP005 – British Ale Yeast

Yield:

5.5 Gallons

Stats:

OG: 1.052 FG: 1.013 13.22 SRM 34.1 IBU

Oatmeal Stout

A dark, full-bodied, roasty ale with a slight oatmeal note in the background. It has a slight roasted-grain flavor and aroma, like bitter chocolate, which helps dry the finish.  A subtle earthy character makes this a beer perfect for the fall season and a crisp evening.

This beer would pair brilliantly with a Montreal spiced NY Strip.

 Beer Label - Oatmeal Stout

Ingredients:

8 lbs 2-row pale malt
1 lb Flaked Oats
8 oz Chocolate Malt
4 oz Aromatic Malt
4 oz Crystal 80L Malt
8 oz Roasted Barley
 

Mashed at 153F – 78% Efficiency

Hops:

1.8 oz East Kent Goldings 5.0% AA 60 Minutes

Yeast:

WLP005 – British Ale Yeast

Yield:

5 Gallons

Stats:

OG: 1.059 FG: 1.015 24.7 SRM 33.7 IBU

St Bernardus Tasting

Pater6

Went to the St Bernardus Tasting at Victoria Gastro Pub on Saturday night.   The beers were amazing.   The pub has an incredible beer list with Alex at the helm.    He was very knowledgeable.    Highlights of the evening: Pater 6 on draught,  24 faucets & over 100 bottles.

Pater 6 – “This “Paterke” is a chestnut coloured dark beer with a high fermentation (6.7 alcohol content) and a full taste.”   A very nice belgian dubbel!     The Prior 8 was excellent also.

If you haven’t been to a Baltimore Beer Week (#bbw09)event yet there are still plenty.    I’m sure I’ll be hitting something at Metropolitan this week.   Prost!

Baltimore Beer Week has begun

Had a great time aboard the USS Constellation for the opening ceremony of the 1st Annual Baltimore Beer Week (#bbw09).    Got to talk to a ton of people from the old Sean Bolan’s days.  Boog Powell tapped the firkin of Clipper City Loose Canon.  “It’s tapped hon!”  “Squire Frederick” was a nice touch to the ceremonies.

P1030481

 

Beer highlights for me – Oliver Dark Mild, Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale & the variety of beers that Legends was pouring.   Special thanks to Mick Kipp for arranging my invite to this!

Wine Truths

There are many people that try to impress you about their “wine knowledge”.   The truth is that many people read something that Robert Parker has written and take it as verse.   They put way too much credence into Parker’s palette and writing ability.   The man is a legend and knows a ton about wine but my problem is that he rates wine on an arbitrary 100 point scale that he invented – ever see a wine score of 50?    Worst case is that he rates wines differently when tasting them blind versus knowing what he is tasting.  He demonstrates a bias, a normal human trait that interferes with the ability to be impartial. 

Wine

What Robert Parker doesn’t know is the type of wine that I enjoy.   I’ve determined this by experiencing the wine myself and formulating my own opinions.  I also try to keep an open mind and try as many as possible.  You’ll be surprised what you find along your journey.