Brewnotes » Beer

Belgian Wit

Ben Brouse — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 21:51:11 +0000

This brew has been in the works for quite some time. It is for my neighbor, Dick, who is a pretty zany guy. When we moved in, I started getting him hooked onto “better” beverages. It has been both fun and entertaining.

Lately, one of Dick’s favorite beers is Hoegaarden; aka, that refreshing orange-flavored beer. This was a special batch as he was able to join me for the brew session (#53). It is really just Jamil’s recipe but I tuned it a little for my system.

The wit and what that has been left behind

Ben Brouse — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 20:44:51 +0000

Via Stan Hieronymus – Pierre Celis has died. He brought wit, AKA “Belgian White”, back from the dead in the form of Hoegaarden and the now defunct Celis Brewing in Austin, TX . Thank you Pierre – well done mate.

Giving up food for Lent

Ben Brouse — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 20:31:26 +0000

No, I wouldn’t even think of trying this myself, but this interesting nonetheless. He is giving up all food and attempting to live solely on beer. Check out this link for the full story.

"Three hundred or four hundred years ago, a group of Paulaner monks in a Bavarian region had made a stronger beer in a town called Einbeck and they called it bock. The monks started making a stronger beer, a double beer, called doppelbock," Sorensen said. "The story goes the monks would give up eating and literally would drink this ‘liquid bread’ to sustain them through their Lenten fast."

Lifting the ban of wine corkage in MD

Ben Brouse — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:48:22 +0000

This article from the BBJ says that Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Frederick County all support this effort. I’m all for it, but doubt it will get the traction it needs to really happen.

The simple fact is that the restaurant association is against this because this is cutting into their highest profit margins. It is a reality that restaurants charge 2-3x the wholesale cost they are paying for liquor, wine & beer.

Are Beer Categories Bullsh*t?

Ben Brouse — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 23:23:30 +0000

Stephen Beaumont has a great post today – Lessons on Beer Style From Keef

The BA’s categories do work well in the role for which they have been fashioned, specifically to provide medal categories for the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup. But in using them for anything beyond that purpose, we’d be wise to recall that one person’s jazz is another’s blues

My take: beer categories are a good reference point so that we can communicate about a beer. Outside of that context, they really are bullsh*t – right up there with the 100 point rating system on wines.

Maryland’s Stupid Liquor Laws

Ben Brouse — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 18:22:41 +0000

This article from the Baltimore Sun has some real gems in it.

“When one of Maryland’s most famous chefs (presently featured with his brother Michael Voltaggio in two-page spread in the Williams-Sonoma catalogue) and the nation’s most famous wine connoisseur get together and the resulting meal is somehow regarded as a violation of the law, then there’s a problem with the law.”

…

“Just as wine lovers should have the right to have wine legally shipped to their door, customers ought to be able to bring it with them to lunch or dinner at a restaurant that’s willing to allow such a practice.”

My commentary: while the law is beyond stupid, we shouldn’t lose focus that this affects good beer too.

Baltimore Beer Week 2010

Ben Brouse — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:35:35 +0000

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.

Troegs Java Head Stout

Ben Brouse — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 21:46:26 +0000

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+

German Porter

Ben Brouse — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:06:48 +0000

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.

McGillin’s Old Ale House (Philly)

Ben Brouse — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:05:30 +0000

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.