Beer - More than just Hops, Malt, Yeast and Water

[Nat]

Ugh, I drink beer specifically because I dislike the taste (and effect) of hard alcohol.

[phenweigh]

Chief Beer Officer Does Best Work Before Lunch

Scott Kerkmans recently bested nearly 8,000 applicants hoping to be chief beer officer for a national hotel chain.

[Nighthawk]

Tonight's haul....one of the biggest surprises of my life. With no further adieu...the Sam Adam's Doppel Bock:



Pouring into my widemouth Guiness pint short mug. Three fingers of heavy head over a beautiful ruby red-brown hue. The spitting image of the Paulaner Salvator, from a distance. The nose is just the faintest hint of malt...nothing indicating what is to come.

Malt explosion. Absolutely dreamy. Caramel, a hint of raisin and some yummy spice at the end, but mostly just smooth, creamy malt. This is a better example of what a dopple bock should be than many of the German imports. This is by far the best beer Sam A. has ever made. Very drinkable and a smooth, pleasant mouthfeel...but definitely the alcohol is there (a whopping 8.8%, which is almost unheard of from a big box brewer). It's pleasant, and well blended, but this one is a sipper still. If I had to offer a criticism, there's a bit more carbonation than I prefer in the style (although that may be just my bottle) but to be fair it cuts the richness quite a bit. Some reviewers have claimed a 'metallic' flavor but I don't pick that up.

I'm not sure if it's that the beer is that good, but I absolutely love the style and there are some pretty watery American (and German) versions out there, so getting the real thing from a 'big' brewery is a knockout surprise. This offering is as to their regular Boston Lager as...well...I just don't have an adequate metaphor. Curiously, according to the website this beer is not available 'Due to legal restrictions, Samuel Adams® Double Bock can not be sold in the states of Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia.'

My condolances to the inhabitants of those states. Highly recommended.

[bedir than average]

They did a triple bock for a while as well, but that was only salable in even fewer states.

[Nat]

Damn, I would like to have tried that one, too. It can't be because of the alcohol content...higher ABV sixers sell here. Any idea why?

Here's one I enjoyed recently:

[img]http://www.arrogant*******.com/oaked/images/OAKEDpic.jpg[/img]

Pours from the 12oz bottle a bright crimson with decent head which laces the glass upon dissipation.
Smells very strongly of hops, some orange/grapefruit notes and, yes, wood.
Flavors of citric grapefruit, pine-nut, and a dry oak. The yeast makes itself known, as does a distinctive hop bite. The malts kick in by the end as to not allow the hops to steal the show. There is alot going on in this brew.
It stays very lively in the mouth, allowing the distinctive flavors to power themselves around. Leaves a puckering tangyness which throbs the lower mouth & gums after each sip.
Drinkability, as with the traditional ABA, depends on one's tolerance for hops malt & yeast which knock you over the head with their presence. For myself, and many others, it's a much-welcome presence in the beer world.

[Nat]

Never mind. It rhymes with "shastard".

[Coop]

Memphis does have a few stores and drinking establishments with a large selection.
Flying Saucer is here with a lot, but the cost is too high for me.

I am a regular at the great microbrewery, Boscos , the Restaurant for Beer Lovers .
Great Ales. Save The Ales!
They are in most competitions and do very well. The walls are filled with awards.
They win all awards with me just from their great really hops (bitter) IPA.
They have the favorites regular on tap and seasonals for even more variety.
No keg is on a tap lasts long enough to get stale. Great product, great SALES!
This endorsement is unsolicited. No pay.

[jtur88]

A question for a beer connoisseur. If I poured you a glass of beer, would you be able to tell if it came from a glass bottle or a can?

The rate-beer sites never differentiate between beers from cans and bottles, so I presume it makes no difference.

However, I usually just drink right from the can, and if the beer has been in my frost-free fridge for a few days, the top of the can has that freezer smell. For that reason, I keep my cans of beer upside down when cooling.

[Nighthawk]

If I poured you a glass of beer, would you be able to tell if it came from a glass bottle or a can?

Historically, the answer is yes. To be fair, though, until recently this was primarily a function of the quality of the product as opposed to any actual flavor difference. That is to say, the beer in cans was terrible. This is in addition to any 'off' flavors being stored in bare metal would impart - and there most certainly could be. However, with the advent of lined aluminum cans direct contact is no longer an issue and I have noticed no such problems with quality brews. This is bolstered by many (albeit small) breweries now starting to make quality canned products. Tops on the list is Oskar Blues Brewery, who makes nothing but canned beers, and excellent ones at that. Their Scotch Ale is currently one of my top five favorites.

Canned beer has a huge advantage over bottles in that no light can penetrate, whereas even the darkest tinted glass lets light in to some degree. Beer hates light almost as much as it hates heat (and by heat, I don't mean room temperature, which many beers are quite good if not recommended to be served at) and cans prevent this entirely. Look to see more breweries go this route.