CS Booze Club.

[thansal]

Was it by chance a Kristal Weiss and not a Hefeweiss? I have never actually run into one, so I don't know what they are like, however they are filtered wheat beers.

So, not really a spectacular drink, but I did have the best Old Fashioned I have ever had (not hard, as the only ones I have had were made by me :P) with dinner on Friday. Rittenhouse Rye and Fig Bitters. As I still know nothing about Whiskeys I assuming the rittenhouse was a good one as I enjoyed the hell out of it. Very smooth, and the little bit of fig that came through was nice (apparently I like figs, who knew?).

[Jester]

Definitely not a Kristal Weisse. I typed the name directly off the bottle, thank you very much. And I've had a Kristal Weisse before, at least one or two. (I would have to check my notes.)

And this is my first Booze Club post that is LIVE from a bar, thanks to my new toy laptop. Sitting here at the Hungry Monk in Chandler, AZ (yet another suburb of Phoenix)) waiting for my best friend Neets and her 7 year old Bear to join me. This place was recommended to me by a guy I talked to at the Twisted Kilt, another great bar here in the East Valley. More about the Kilt later.

The Hungry Monk is a nice place, in a strip mall as so many places in the Valley are, lots of big screen tv's and a definite friendly bar feel to it, though the tables are set up a bit cafeteria like...if a cafeteria catered to beer-loving patrons.

I'll be ordering a beer sampler, that consists of four 5 oz beers, and probably some food, as I still have to drive. Hopefully they will be 4 beers I've never had before. Neets is still not here, so I shall peruse the beer menu and see what I will be getting....

And this is what I finally selected! (Well, after several minutes, that is....)

Polestar (Left Hand Brewing, Longmont, CO, 5.0% ABV), a German pilsner: I generally love the stuff from Left Hand, and I had never tried this one, so while I don't normally like pilsners all that much, I'm giving this a shot. The color is light gold/yellow, like most pilsners. Very light nose. Light taste, slightly bitter. Decently refreshing, better to me than most pilsners, but not really my cup of tea...or for that matter, my cup of beer. Score: 4.

Scorpion Amber (Mudshark Brewing, Lake Havasu City, AZ, 5.5% ABV), an amber ale: I LOVE a good amber. Evolution Amber from Wasatch Brewery in Utah, best ever. Fat Tire out of Colorado, a freakin' joke. Never had anything by Mudshark, so this could be fun. The color is perfect for an amber, deep reddish amber. A good sign. Smells great, slightly sweet with that bite I expect from an amber. Wow! Very nice. Again, slightly sweet, just a bit of the amber bite, so no competition for Evolution, but still very nice. Neets can't stand it, but I like it. Good beer, decent amber beer. I give it a score of 6.5.

Black Butte (Deschutes Brewing, Bend, OR, 5.5% ABV), an American Porter: This is the one I'm most anticipating. Dark brown, almost black, with a creamy white head. STRONG coffee smell, more typical of a stout than a porter. Very interesting. Strong coffee flavor, but in a good way. Very tasty, like they decided to make a porter as much stout-like as possible, I like, it though. The sweetness of the porter nicely counters the bitter coffee bite. Neets has had it many times before, and likes it. Interesting note: Neets says from her experience that Black Butte is very popular with Midwesterners. It could be better, it's a bit watery on the backside. My score: 6.5.

Judgment Day (Lost Abbey Brewing, San Diego, CA, 10.5% ABV), a Belgian quadruple: Quads are weird for me. I either love them or hate them. Generally I don't like Belgian strong brews, but every now and then, they are awesome, like St. Martin's Tripel. Almost no nose....very light, but a bit of a hint of malt. Ooohh....wow. A dark Belgian. Unusual. I like it. Because I've been chatting with Neets and trying not to drink this all too fast, it is a bit warm, but this is the kind of beer that is not bad warm. In the end, probably the best of the bunch. Solid 7. But watch out for the alcohol content!

Okay, enough messing about online....time to spend quality time with my best friend and her daughter. (And yes, she knows what I am doing here, and that I am not ignoring her. LOL!)

[Pony_Boy]

One of the local breweries in the area as a large Oktoberfest Celebration coming up soon, which, of course, includes a mini beer festival! They just released the list of beer that will be available. So, for your enjoyment, here they are:

This first list are beers being offered by Beau's All Natural Brewing Co. The host brewery.

Lug•Tread

Lagered Ale • 5.2% alc./vol
Lug•Tread Lagered Ale is our award winning, flagship beer. Golden-hued, crisp and finely balanced, Lug•Tread is a tribute to the classic beer of Cologne, Germany. Lug•Tread is top fermented (like an ale) and then cold aged (like a lager) for a lengthy period. This imparts light ale notes that are complemented by a lager-like crispness. Lug•Tread displays interwoven malt and hop flavours, subtle fruit flavours and a crisp, lingering finish.

Night•Märzen

Oktoberfest Lager • 5.5% alc./vol.
Märzen is the traditional Oktoberfest style of beer. Our only regularly produced lager, this rich malty beer uses just the right amount of noble hops to balance the Munich malts and features an ultra clean finish to complete the package. Like all our beer, Night•Märzen is brewed with local springwater, organic malts and organic hops.

Smokin' Banana Peel

Hefeweizen
Wild Oats Series No. 11
That classic Hefeweizen character with an intense banana aroma, but with an added smokiness from malts that were home-smoked at the brewery with maple wood (Canadian maple at that, too!). Simply put, banana pancakes with bacon.

Two Weeks Notice

German Porter • 6.0% alc./vol.
Wild Oats Series No. 12
A very rare style that was originally created as a competitor to the popular London porter. So, what makes it a German porter? Why it's been brewed with lager yeast of course! The roasted barley provides chocolate flavours and the malt sweetness is complimented by a finely balanced bitterness.

Weiss O'Lantern

Pumpkinweiss
Wild Oats Series No. 13
Orange hued with a tall creamy head, Weiss O' Lantern is a white beer brewed with pumpkin. Pumpkin citrus fruit and spice flavours shine through it's full, wheat body. The finish is lively, zippy and darn refreshing.

Dr. Jekyll

Lug•Tread - Night•Märzen Blend • 5.2% alc./vol.
Wild Oats Series No. 14
Am I a kolsch or a marzen? A little bit of both I say, -
what's that? Mr. Hyde rapping at my door methinks.... The delicately malty, slightly fruity character of Lug•Tread dances lockstep with the more intensely bready, biscuity backbone of Night•Märzen, while taming some of its hop intensity. This blend is a perennial favorite around the brewery.

Mr. Hyde

Roggenbier meets RyePA • 7.0% alc./vol.
Wild Oats Series No. 15
A tribute to the Roggenbiers of Germany, but done with with a North American twist. Deep copper in colour, Mr. Hyde is a rye beer that has been hopped aggressively in the American vein. However, it utilizes German hops to provide bitterness, flavour and aroma, while the rye malt provides an additional spiciness.


Besides these they are also having a "beer festival within a beer festival" where many of the local/semi-local craft breweries with be offering a selection of what they do best. I don't know if any of these are available anywhere outside Ontario but regardless here is the list:

This Year's Participating Breweries (and casks) Include...

Amsterdam Brewery (Toronto, On)
On Cask: Maple Porter
Barley Days Brewery (Prince Edward County, On)
Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co. (Vankleek Hill, On)
Black Oak Brewing Co. (Toronto, On)
On Cask: Oaktoberfest (Marzen)
Brasserie Benelux (Montreal, Qc)
On Cask: La Cigogne (Pilsner), Spectrum (Helles Bock)
Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel! (St-Jerome, Qc)
On Cask: Corne du Diable (American IPA), Péché Mortel (Imperial Coffee Stout)
Cameron’s (Oakville, On)
On Cask: ALTari 2600 (Imperial Altbier)
Cheshire Valley Brewing Co. (Etobicoke, On)
On Cask: Imperial Stout with Anise
Church-Key Brewing Co. (Cambellford, On)
On Cask: Grains of Wrath (Double IPA)
Clock Tower Brew Pub (Ottawa, On)
On Cask: Red (Red Ale), Pumpkin (Pumpkin Ale)
Durham Brewing (Pickering, On)
On Cask: Hophead (Golden Ale)
F&M Brewery (Guelph, On)
Flying Monkeys (Barrie, On)
On Cask: Netherworld Porter (Cascadian Dark Ale)
Grand River Brewing (Cambridge, On)
On Cask: Pugnascious Pale Ale (American Pale Ale)
Granite Brewery (Toronto, On)
On Cask: Hopping Mad (American IPA)
Great Lakes Brewery (Toronto, On)
On Cask: Canuckelhead (Double Dry Hopped Pale Ale)
Hopfenstark (L’Assomption, Qc)
On Cask: Greg (American Foreign Stout)
House Ales Nano-Brewery Project (Toronto, On)
On Cask: Nortorious IPA (American IPA)
Kensington Brewing (Toronto, On)
On Cask: August Ale (English Pale Ale)
Lake of Bays Brewing (Baysville, On)
Le Trou Du Diable (Shawinigan, Qc)
On Cask: MacTavish In Memoriam (American Pale Ale)
Mill St. Brewery (Toronto, On)
Neustadt Springs Brewery (Neustadt, On)
On Cask: Double Fuggle (Scottish Pale Ale)
Nickelbrook (Burlington, On)
On Cask: Woodstock Headstock Oaked IPA
Publican House Brewery (Peterborough, On)
On Cask: Square Nail Pale Ale (American Pale Ale)
Wellington Brewery (Guelph, On)
On Cask: Arkell Best Bitter (English Best Bitter)


Not a bad list if I do say so myself

Thoughts??

[Frantic Freddie]

This could be a Work Chat post but since it wasn't really work & involves drinkin' I'll put it here

When I worked for Walgreens' liquor dept. me & the dept mgr. would go to the annual Local Distributors Exposition,an event not open to the public.We went to further our education for better customer service,to learn about new products & marketing.

Yeah,right.....

We'd take our wives & a friend or 2,who wouldn't want to go,4 hours of free munchies & "every kinda booze known to man?"*!!!


*Mars Attacks

[Jester]

Not a bad list if I do say so myself

Thoughts??

Not a bad list at all. But it would have been far more impressive had you reviewed/tried/sampled/reported on any or all of them. I would have settle for "any," to be honest.

[Pony_Boy]

Not a bad list at all. But it would have been far more impressive had you reviewed/tried/sampled/reported on any or all of them. I would have settle for "any," to be honest.

Its not until next weekend, Don't worry I plan on taking notes ( though, not as detailed as yours) and posting them here

I wouldn't leave you hanging like that

[Jester]

I wouldn't leave you hanging like that

"You keep me hanging on, you just keep me hanging on...."

Speaking of taking notes, I have for the most part been taking notes on all the new beers I've been trying. And last night I tried a new rum, but sadly, I was so much about celebrating the Dbacks division championship, I didn't even think to take any notes about it. So much so that I don't think I can even tell you what rum it was.

[KiaKat]

*drool*

This sparkling has cemented in my mind why Chenin Blanc is one of my favourite grapes. Age-worthy, rich, and complex, especially when vinified by a master winemaker.

(biodynamic) Francois Chidaine Montlouis NV Chenin Blanc Method Traditionnal Sparkling (Loire Valley) ~$24 - At first sniff, toasted almonds and lemon rind. Tiny, creamy bubbles tickle my upper lip and go up my nose - just the way they should. First sip takes a minute to disperse the bubbles, then it's pure hazelnut and caramelized apple, wrapped in an almost buttery creaminess. The finish is one of the longest I've had on a bubbly lately, with caramel/butterscotch and dry slate. There's clear oxidation, which on a non-vintage is remarkable; he must be aging the wine in-bottle after the second fermentation. I should track down whether he puts his bottling or release date on the label. Truly a masterful bubbly, and one that will be added to the collection. I may end up buying a case or three of this at some point, just so I can bottle-age it and see what it does in the next couple decades.

I've had a number of his other wines from Touraine (Loire Valley) and fell in love with his expression of Chenin Blanc a number of years ago. There's something truly special about how he understands this grape and the potential that it holds.

[Jester]

Speaking of wine, my friend took me to Jerome, AZ for some wine tasting on her birthday this past Tuesday, and it was very impressive. As much as I love my home state, if you had told me that there are "great Arizona wines" I would have laughed at the phrase.

And I would have been dead wrong.

I'll come with more details later in the week once I'm back in Key West, but let's just say if you're ever in northern Arizona and love wine, head to the Jerome/Cottonwood area and check out some of the local vineyards/wine bars/tastings.

And you'll be as pleasantly surprised as I was.

[protege]

After the day I've had... I have a feeling that some Old Speckled Hen is in my future. Anyone familiar with that one?

[Treasure]

tried something kind of new the other night... decided to call it "apple pie"

take 1 shot Goldschlager and pour into bottom of Pint glass
take one 20 oz Strongbow cider and pour into Pint glass over the shot...

[KiaKat]

Even better - heat cider & pour into mug over 1oz Applejack (I use Harvest Spirits Cornelius) + 1/2oz Koval Ginger Liqueur (or Domaine de Canton, though that's not as gingery), and add a cinnamon stick for swizzle.

[Mytical]

So if a person was looking for something low alcohol, smooth, a bit sweet..and not very expensive..what would the more knowledgeable people here suggest?

[Jester]

After the day I've had... I have a feeling that some Old Speckled Hen is in my future. Anyone familiar with that one?

I know I've seen it, and I THINK I've had it, but I'd have to check my notes. And I really need to get my notes a bit more organized, to be honest.

tried something kind of new the other night... decided to call it "apple pie"

take 1 shot Goldschlager and pour into bottom of Pint glass
take one 20 oz Strongbow cider and pour into Pint glass over the shot...

Right there you have the beginnings of a Flaming Bin Laden, a shot I became acquainted with years ago when back home in Phoenix at one of my old favorite bars (which sadly no longer exists).

For a Flaming Bin Laden, take a pint glass, and fill it halfway with your favorite hard cider. Pour Goldschlager into a shot glass until the shot glass is almost, but not quite, full. Add a splash each of apple pucker and 151 on top, light it, drop it in the pint glass, and slam the whole thing down. Tastes like warm apple pie!

So if a person was looking for something low alcohol, smooth, a bit sweet..and not very expensive..what would the more knowledgeable people here suggest?

I would suggest a hard cider. My favorites are Fox Barrel Pear Cider and Woodchuck Pear Cider, as they are crisp and refreshing, low in alcohol, and not overly sweet. Of course, you can always go with a traditional hard apple cider, such as Strongbow, Magner's, or any of the others in the Woodchuck line (though I would avoid their Summer Cider, as I found it to be repulsively sweet, even with my sweet tooth). Some others include Ace, Woodpecker, and Wyder's, though I am not impressed with the last one, and it's been years since I had either of the other two, so I can't remember how good they are. My favorite in the apple cider category is Hornsby's.

Also there's the Not Quite Beers, such as Smirnoff Ice and Mike's Hard Lemonade. Both have many flavors to choose from.

If you're looking more for a cocktail, you're probably going to want some time of rum and juice or rum and soda. I prefer my mixing rums with Sprite, ginger ale, or pineapple juice myself, but individual preferences will vary.

Good luck!

[Jester]

Today's beer review: Stone Imperial Russian Stout. I have a big bomber type bottle of it, and it just seems like the right night for something dark and delicious.

Blacker than the heart of my evil ex-girlfriend, Stone IRS pours thick and dark like motor oil, always a good sign in a dark beer. A dark creamy tan head forms, though quickly dissipates. The nose is rich but subtle, with a hint of mocha.

The first sip was three....it is just too delicious. Rich and warming to the heart, subtle and elegant but complex with its flavors, Stone IRS is tasty and rich, without being obnoxious with its tastes. Hold on....I should have some more for further research. This is a man's beer. Not a wussy beer, and not a frat boy beer, but a Renaissance Man's Beer. Rich and malty, with no real hoppiness to speak of, as IRS's are designed to be. Overall, an excellent example of the style. Perfect for a night out with good company, accompanying a good meal, such as a good steak or stew or something equally hearty, or just a simple enjoyable beer for a night in doing something enjoyable. Which in my case, on this night, will be reading Gravekeeper's Monday post. (Don't worry...I sip, swallow, THEN read...I've learned.) Highly desireable, and highly recommended. My score: 8.5.