In R2P2 - No new beers until late May

Sorry

Back to business..... Bill's Beer Comments are back!

Surly Brewing continues with its fine lineage of beer in a can.  The thoughtful Mr. H from Minneapolis has been so helpful in the import of both Bender and Furious.  Today... Furious.

16 oz can.  Pours great into a nice pint glass.  Good head.  Definite hop character without sticking ones head into a bucket of citrus.  A slight malt backbone that plays well with the pine hints that support the citrus.

BA rates this an A as do I.  6.2% ABV is just right for this American IPA.  I would definitely want this one for a summer refresher.  It also works good almost any other time.

It's been awhile since my last post.  I will have one more and then be dark until almost Memorial Day.

Enjoy.

A night in IPA land - Dogfish Head 90

Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
9.00 % APV
IBU: 90
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, Delaware

Dry,citrus (can I say grapefruit?), definitely bitter this waited for Imperial IPA is certainly one of the best. With the extreme hopping that is done, one would wonder if the malt side would hold up. I am here to tell you that the answer is yes.

The pairing was with BBQ shredded pork. Didn't we just do this last weekend? It was also paired with other IPA's during the night as we were working through the IPA world. You know, it only comes up to be 52 just so many times.

Bottom line, I am now looking for the 120 minute. If 90 is this good, 120 has to be that much better.

Enjoy and be safe.

A pleasant surprise from the Goose

Bourbon County Stout - 2007
abv = 13%
IBU = 60

A fine American Double / Imperial Stout from Goose Island Brewery in Chicago. Some would say that stouts are meant to drink in the winter. Well I am here to tell you that June is just as good, especially if the weather in Chicago is in the 50's. Last Saturday was a miserable day for a party in Chicago's western suburbs. It was cold, hinting at rain, and generally miserable. It was my nephew's graduation party from 8th grade.

My brother-in-law served me a fine bottle of this nectar. The required sniff test signaled something good. Smoke, bourbon, chocolate, and dates hit my senses. Something good was going to happen. It poured like a fine syrup.

I suppose people would also associate vanilla with this beer, but it brings back memories of a dutch delicacy of whiskey, raisins, and dates. It was pure comfort.

I definitely need to get my hands on some. It does need to age. My guess is that the 2006 is even better.

Try it. You just might be surprised.

Island Wheat - a nice change

Had the fine pleasure of getting out of the Bay and venturing into the nearby countryside yesterday with friends. We took the opportunity to check out a neat little organic nursery in Bonduel, WI called appropriately Thistledown Greenhouse. I can say that there was a removal of a thistle or two this morning. Picked up some nice perennials for adding to the yard, seeing more but realizing that time is always on our side with perennials.

We then voyaged off to Wescott (N side of Shawano Lake) to have dinner at the Cotton Patch Supper Club. First time for us. Menu at the door looked good, so hey, take a chance. As with most WI supper clubs one is obligated to have the pre-dinner drink. Pretty smokey at the bar so we took it outside to the deck. Weather was good (60's) and the night was young.

My choice, Capital Brewery's Island Wheat. 12 oz, nicely chilled. Had a good yeasty profile with a little hint of citrus and banana. The balance of bitterness brought on from the hops and yeast is enhanced with the sweet wheat malt. Clean, crisp, and for the start of summer a nice change of pace for me.

While it doesn't fit the stand in the corner at attention Pale Ales that I tend to favor, Island Wheat is definitely a choice that one should add to the mix. One always needs to have diversity in the portfolio.

Until later.

The Beginning

Sitting on deck of my brother's house it became clear that the world deserved another view of what was good with beer. It was humid, the sun was still up. A hog had been sacrificed to the charcoal and hickory gods. All was well with the world.

Now it was time to solve the world's problems.

Schlafly Beer offers a fine array beers. The only problem is that my brother didn't share. Now I know. We took the time to understand a little of the pale ales. My favorite? Dry Hopped APA (IBU = 50). Fine, very fine. The right amount of hops brought out just enough of the fruit tones to make me jeaolus that there distribution range was just 3-4 hours around St Louis. Oh well, perhaps another trip to St Louis. It will be missed in WI.

Next on board for the list - Bell's Beer.

Soon...