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Archive for the ‘Beer’ Category

Baltimore Beer Week 2010

August 31st, 2010 Ben Brouse No comments
After a grueling summer for various reasons, I’m looking forward to the fall and Baltimore Beer Week.
Opening Tap Celebration:  Museum of Industry, Oct 7.
  
Fond memories of last year include events at Metropolitan, Pratt St Ale House & Victoria Gastro Pub.
I’ll be writing up each and every event that I attend.

bbweek2010
Categories: Beer, Food & Drink

Troegs Java Head Stout

July 16th, 2010 Ben Brouse Comments off
troegs-beer-java-stout Last evening at Metropolitan, Firkin Thursday featured Troegs Java Head Stout.


  ”JavaHead’s recipe is based off of our original oatmeal stout. After the boil, the hot wort passes through our hopback vessel on it’s way to fermentation. Packed full of whole leaf hops and a bed of ground coffee beans, the hopback vessel is similar to using a huge French press, intensifying the coffee nose and releasing subtle hints of coffee flavor. The result is a lush oatmeal mouthfeel balanced with cocoa, roast and subtle coffee flavors.”

Nice to see a brewery delivering a well executed brew without resorting to the trendy hop bomb.    I was amazed at how easy drinking this beer was for a hot summer day.   Well Done.

Current Beeradvocate Rating: B+
Categories: Beer, Food & Drink, Prelude

German Porter

July 14th, 2010 Ben Brouse Comments off

I was talking to a friend of mine who mentioned a local German homebrew competition taking place.   In that conversation we talked about a style that was knew to me – German porter.   Check out the article that was dug up on this style.    I don’t think this style is currently covered in the BJCP style guidelines but it is pretty cool nonetheless.

Categories: Beer, Food & Drink

McGillin’s Old Ale House (Philly)

July 12th, 2010 Ben Brouse Comments off
Being in town for the Furthur show, a group of us were looking for a good place to have lunch and some good beers.    Obviously Yards and Victory were both represented, but was also happy to find some brews from Stoudt’s and Troegs.

Very cool décor and old atmosphere.    The food was decent pub grub but nothing I would seek out either.   My only complaint – the music.    Some of the worst 80’s tunes I’ve heard in a while. 

More reviews here.

 McGillin's Old Ale House on Urbanspoon
Categories: Beer, Food & Drink, Restaurant Reviews

Channel Crossing

May 21st, 2010 Ben Brouse 2 comments
channel cross
Last night, I attended the unveiling of the new collaboration between Oliver Breweries and Stillwater Artisanal Ales @ the Pratt St Alehouse.   Hopefully, this won’t be the last of the cross-pollination between these two breweries.
Open fermentation, Belgian yeast, interesting hop choices make for a very drinkable beer with fruity esters and firm bitterness.    The variations of this beer presented last evening included a plain old draft, a french oak firkin, and 3 dry-hopped pins (czech saaz, kent goldings & bramling cross).  
Personally, I preferred the draft version.
Categories: Beer, Food & Drink

Grateful Red Ale

April 12th, 2010 Ben Brouse 2 comments
If you know me, I was bound to have a GD inspired brew at some point.   This was brewed back on 3/6/2010.  
This recipe is originally taken from Jamil.  To quote him, “This is how red ales are done on the West Coast.  Just about every brewery out here needs a beer on their menu that has a lot of hop flavor, and many of them turn to this style of beer.   They are big, bold statements balancing lots of citrusy hops and specialty malt.”
Beer Label - Grateful Red

Ingredients (Single Infusion Mash – 152F):

12.25# 2-row Maris Pale Malt
1# Munich
1# Crystal 40L
8 oz Crystal 120L
8 oz Victory
3 oz Pale Chocolate

Hops:

1.1 oz Horizon 13.0% AA 60 Min
0.5 oz Cascade 6.0% AA 10 Min
1 oz Centennial 9.0% AA 10 Min
1 oz Cascade 6.0% AA 0 Min
1 oz Centennial 9.0% AA 0 Min

Yeast:

(2) US-05  – ~@67F

Yield:

5 Gallons

Stats:

OG: 1.076 IBU: 66 SRM: 16 ABV: 7.8%
Categories: Beer, Food & Drink, Homebrew

Special Firkins at DuClaw

March 27th, 2010 Ben Brouse Comments off

A friend invited me out to DuClaw @ Arundel Mills yesterday.   I got a special treat to try two different firkins!   A wit spiced with cinnamon and vanilla and a imperial porter with peppermint.    While I would say these beers weren’t my thing, it was an impressive thirsty crowd that had gathered.

Best part of the night for me – trying the Double IPA – Serum.    Amazing how balanced it was.

Categories: Beer, Food & Drink

It’s Dead Now (MD Wine Shipping)

March 24th, 2010 Ben Brouse Comments off

This looks like it isn’t going to be the year of direct wine shipping in MD. Eye on Annapolis has some great coverage of yesterdays proceedings.

Categories: Beer, Food & Drink, Wine

Biergarten Haus in DC

March 22nd, 2010 Ben Brouse 3 comments
A friend pointed this out to me today.   From the Washington Post,   “Biergarten Haus, the city’s largest — and only — German-style beer garden, is poised to bring bratwurst, hefeweizen and strolling accordion players to 1355 H St. NE next month. (There’s still some construction to be done, says co-owner Aaron McGovern, so the target date is "early-to-mid April.")"

Looks extremely interesting.   I can hardly wait to sing my first “Ein Prosit”.

 biergartenhaus_patio454 Picture taken from the article.
Categories: Beer, Food & Drink

Not Dead Yet (MD Wine Shipping)

March 19th, 2010 Ben Brouse Comments off

Via MMBWL Facebook.   Hooray for MD Sen Bobby Zirkin.   At least one legislator has some common sense.   Possibly he represents his constituents?   *sarcasm*

“Zirkin independently offered an amendment today to SB 858 (Winery Improvement act, which had made it onto the floor) to allow Direct Shipping of Wine. The Senate will vote on this on Tuesday. “

If you haven’t been paying attention, check this out.

Categories: Beer, Food & Drink, Wine