Southern Star Buried Hatchet Stout

Tracy and I have posted or commented lately about some great chocolate stouts. But, I have to give props to another stout. One served in a can. WTF?? Yes, in a can! It is Southern Star Buried Hatchet Stout. This is one great stout. Why? Because it is such a nice balance between the coffee and the chocolate. Really, one taste you get a nice coffee, then you wonder about the chocolate and take another sip ... and there it is. Here is the description from the Flying Saucer beer database:
The Buried Hatchet is a strong Foreign-export stout (stylistically speaking) with medium initial sweetness, medium body, and pervasive coffee and chocolate notes in the nose and in the taste. There is no hop aroma or flavor, but the hop bitterness is relatively high, although somewhat masked by the malt sweetness. 8.25%
I am so glad I just finished my 1st plate so I could enjoy this one again ... and get credit!!

Good Beer, Good Food...What's Not to Love??

'Tis the season for holiday dinners, and last Monday night Joe, the Reverend and I indulged in a delicious five-course food and beer adventure at our local Flying Saucer.  They brought in a rep from Boston Beer to present a Samuel Adams Holiday Beer Dinner.  (I sincerely want this person's job.)  Here's what we had:

We started off with a flute of Infinium, a collaboration between Boston Beer and Weihenstephan Brewery in Germany.  Infinium, 10.3 abv, is a "champagne-like" beer marketed as the first new beer style to be developed under the restrictions of the Reinheitsgebot in over a century.  Reinheitsgebot is the German purity law enacted in 1516 (although overturned in 1987) that required all beers be made with only water, barley, hops, and yeast.

Infinium comes in what looks like a champagne bottle and is sort of in between a champagne, a dessert wine, and a Pilsner. You get the body and mouthfeel of a beer, some of the hop character of a beer, but it's very dry like champagne.  But then, because of the processes and different types and ratios of only those four ingredients, I could taste peaches and apricots - reminicent of dessert wine.  Totally yummy, and probably what we'll toast with at our New Year's party.



So Cheers!  and on with dinner...

First Course: Samuel Adams White Ale (a Belgian-style wheat beer brewed with 10 unique spices.  This unfiltered brew has a hazy white appearance from the malt proteins which give this beer a crisp, malty, cereal finish and smooth mouthfeel) served with spring mix salad tossed with mandarin oranges, pomegranate seeds, spiced pecans and pomegranate vinaigrette. 

We could really taste the tamarind spice (sort of a sweet/sour flavor...it really hit me in the back of my upper palate - like where you feel a cough drop's vapor - right up the back of my nose.) and the citrus in the beer.  I didn't think it went with the sweetness of the salad ingredients, but the Reverend liked the contrasting flavors.  By the way, if you've never tackled a pomegranate - they're in season.  They're are a lot of work, but they are wonderful.  Don't wear a white shirt.

Second Course: Samuel Adams Winter Lager (a wheat bock brewed with cinnamon, ginger and orange peel) served with cilantro-jalapeno latkes and a tart sour cream.

This was a great food/beer pairing.  The sweet spiciness of the cinnamon/ginger combination launched the cilantro/jalapeno into another realm.  I was doin' a little chair dance of deliciousness.

Third Course: Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock (yeah, I know...a beer on the dark and malty end of the bock beer spectrum.  Instead of dry hopping, they added cocoa nibs to the storage tank.  This year the nibs are from Tcho Chocolate.  They are a blend of Columbian and Ecuadorian cocoa beans...I frankly didn't care where they came from, I was just happy they ended up in my beer) served with braised short ribs, hand rubbed with smoked paprika and spices, slow-cooked in Chocolate Bock, then glazed in a sweet chipotle sauce, served with a dollop of polenta.

Christ Almighty.  There is a God and He's come to earth in the form of a short rib and chocolate bock beer.  The beer was not as dark chocolately as the Harpoon we had the other night; it was more milk chocolately.  And combined with the spices from the rib, the bock's underlying flavors spread out across my tongue and I think I actually drooled a bit.  Undoubtedly THIS was my favorite pairing of the evening.  Well, so far.

Fourth Course: Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale (a spiced brown ale that the SA folks like to call the Christmas Cookie beer) served with a small wedge of brie, apricot preserves, multi-grain crackers, dried cranberries and almonds.

The Fezziwig (Yes, Virginia, that IS a character in Dickens' A Christmas Carol) tasted like a malty, bready cookie - sweet-ish and savory.  And with the cheese and preserves, it was a great choice after the bock and rib flavors. 

Fifth Course: Samuel Adams Holiday Porter (a traditional, no frills porter.  Roasty, with a pronounced bitterness from traditional UK hops, it is a big beer for the colder months) served with coffee ice cream sundaes topped with caramel and chocolate sauce and honey roasted pecans. 

Do I even have to try to describe what we tasted here?  Melt in your mouth flavor, paired perfectly with the ice cream and toppings.  A great wallop of my favorite flavors.  Please, sir, may I have some more?

All of the beers were served in 5oz snifters (except for the Infinium) and the courses were small plates, sort of one of each.  Just enough beer with just enough food.  It was a fabulous dinner, and we begged them to do it again with other brewers.  I'll keep you posted.

Addison Flying Saucer Beer Dinner

This last Monday, the Addison Flying Saucer had a beer dinner. It was a collaboration between Samuel Adams and the Flying Saucer pairing food with beer. Rachelle Bose was the presenter from Samuel Adams. She was very knowledgeable and nice to watch :) If I remember right, there were about 24 people who attended the dinner. I would have bet that all of them were UFO members, but there were a couple of guys sitting next to our table who weren't.

It started off with a special treat. Samuel Adams and Germany's Weihenstephan got together and created a new beer called Infinium. It comes in a champagne bottle and it was served in champagne flutes.

1st course was White Ale with a salad.
2nd course was Winter Lager with Cilantro-Jalapeno Latkes with tart sour cream. I think the general consensus in the room was that the latkes should be added to the menu!
3rd course was Chocolate Bock with spicy braised short ribs. OMG! The chipotle spice rub on the short ribs was so freaking excellent with the chocolate bock. Sadly, the Chocolate Bock is only a seasonal beer. Get it while you can!!
4th course was Old Fezziwig Ale and some brie cheese, apricot preserves and almonds. If you are wondering if Old Fezziwig was named after a character in Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol", then pat yourself on the back.
5th and last course was Holiday Porter and coffee ice cream. I am a freak for porters and loved this one. I even sent an official request to have the coffee ice cream added as a regular on the menu for serving with Youngs Double Chocolate Stout as a float.

I would love to see this style of dinner done 3 or 4 times per year. Enough to enjoy, but not so often you wait for the next one. They could even work with different breweries, like a local called Franconia.

Here is the menu:

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah...The Real Reason For This Post

Yay, the Reverend drank 200 beers.  Yay, he's gettin' a plate at the Saucer.  Yay, we partied on his tab last night.  But here's the real reason for this post: a new beer we discovered last night.  Harpoon Chocolate Stout.
 
Holy Crap!  If you like rich dark chocolate this is the beer for you.  It's described as having a hint of chocolate, but it's more like a hint of beer.  This is an amazing concoction.  Not forever after my favorite beer, and certainly not a session beer, but OMG you should not miss out on this seasonal from Harpoon. 

It pours almost black with very little head.  Immediately you can smell the chocolate, and WHAM it's in your face with the first sip.  Who cares about finish or mouthfeel?  This is one tasty beverage.  It's just under 6% abv, so it's not as stout-y as most.  But after a deep hearty quaff, you may feel the need to wipe the melted chocolate off your chin. 

So very good, I had two (even though only one counted toward my next plate).  Oh, and, thanks, Rev!

And Here's the Man Himself - Or What's Left of Him

Congrats, Rev!

Here's a better look at the plate.

They'll be nailin' it to the wall at the Saucer on Thursday.  We'll take pictures.

1st Plate ... Done!

Friday was a great day. I hit a milestone of 60 pounds lost. I then decided to make it a bifecta (trifecta minus one) and have my 198th, 199th & 200th beers to earn my first plate. We had a nice group of people there. I have to give HUGE kudos to my favorite server/part time manager at the Addison Flying Saucer. Christy is great. Once I had my 200th beer, she took my slips, had them entered and then cleared my count so I could enjoy more beer at The Lake Flying Saucer. It was kind of cool to run my card and see ZERO beers.

If you are curious, my 200th beer was Shiner Cheer. Seemed so apropos to finish with a Texas Christmas beer.

Got My Vote For Yummy

I went to the Saucer yesterday...my first time back to the Addison location since October 16!  WTF??  THAT'S how busy I've been.  But, as I suspected, it was like putting on an old pair of comfortable slippers. 

They had a couple of new things on the board, so I jumped right in.  I started off with a Harpoon Triticus.  It was their tapping on Thursday night (which I missed), and I'm sooo glad they hadn't dusted the keg.  It was delicious.  At 11.5% abv, it's chocolate and caramel-y flavors were rich and warming. 

Next I tried Rogue's John John Hazelnut.  WOW!  John Couchot first distills Rogue Hazelnut Spiced Rum and ages it in white oak barrels, allowing the barrels to soak up the subtle flavors of Oregon hazelnuts, vanilla and spices from the rum. When the rum is finished aging, the barrels are emptied and John Maier immediately fills them with Hazelnut Brown Nectar. After about six months of aging, this unique ale is ready.  It's very spicy - cloves, corriander - and only 5% abv (I thought it was much more...maybe that was the Triticus talking).

My final choice was Franconia's Fall'n Bock.  A beautiful dark bock with toffee and chocolate notes.  The flavor I tasted most, though, was like a baked bing cherry.  Hard to explain, but think: dark rich meat of a bing cherry, but browned.  Still sweet, not overpoweringly cherry, soaked in a really good bock beer.  I may need another one.  Just to make sure of those flavors.  You know, research.

Oh My Goodness

I've been MIA, I know.  I miss the Saucer...seems like weeks since I've been there.  I miss the beer aisle at Central Market...seems like MONTHS since I've been there.  I miss Oktoberfest beers.  I've been traveling on business almost every week...back to back to back to back.  By the time the weekend rolls around, I spend all my time packing and unpacking and catching up on Grey's Anatomy and The Big Bang Theory. 

But THIS week I'M HOME!!!  Flying Saucer, here I come.  I'm sure there are some winter seasonals starting to make their appearance on the "just landed" board. 

I look forward to this year's Franconia Winter Wheat - last year's was just a little sumpin' awesome.  I look forward to porters, stouts and bocks, their flavors bolstered by alcohol-laden dark fruits, chocolates, coffees and caramels.  Perfection just waiting to be sipped in front of a blazing fire on a cold winter night. 

Oh.  Wait.  I live in Dallas.  Scratch the cold winter night.  Scratch the blazing fire.  Just bring on the Winter beers!!

Jack's Pumpking Spice :(

This beer sounds like it should be fantastic. I read some reviews before it was tapped at the Addison Flying Saucer on Thursday. The reviews weren't very good and sadly, they were accurate. The first sip you take will be the most flavor you get. Within a few sips, it degraded to the flavor of sawdust.

There are so many good pumpkin beers out there, don't waste your time with this one

I Must Confess I Love a Road Trip

This time it's to San Antonio.  I have to go for work, and I have to go on Saturday.  The good news is I'll have quite a bit of downtime Saturday and most of Sunday.  Riverwalk here I come, right?  Well...

I've been to San Antonio several times.  Make that many.  Sammy and I went once and tried to take the Alamo.  (I'm not sure in whose name, but they did ask us to get down from the wall.)  I went with my mom and dad to the World's Fair there in 1968.  The fair was the reason they built that sky needle (the Tower of the Americas).  I've eaten on the riverboat that serves Tex-Mex dinner, I've performed on stage at Trinity University, I've driven the beer cart at La Cantera, and of course gotten drunk in the Rough Rider's bar at the Menger.  I've pretty much done San Antonio.

BUT...I haven't been to their Flying Saucer or to the Specs just outside of SA in Live Oak (not where the Live Oak Brewery is).  And y'all know how I am about Specs.  Oh, and the Saucer!

The Reverend is a bit of a geek, and he wrote a program that will take the beers at any Saucer (other than our home Saucer in Addison) and then tell you which ones are unique.  In other words, he can tell me what beers I can get at the San Antonio Saucer that I can't get in Addison.  Sweet!! 

Anyway, I'm sure I'll have much to report this weekend!  Stay tuned.

Affligem Blonde

I came to the Flying Saucer for glass night. Tonight's glass is a ceramic mug with Hoffbrau Oktoberfest beer. I have to come early to get a table. So, that means I have to drink a couple of beers before the 7PM release time.

Sometimes, when I am at loss for what to order, I start at the top of my "beers not tasted" list. So, I started with Affligem Blonde. I was a bit put off because $$$$ follows the beer description. At one time, this may have been an expensive beer, but it is the normal price of $4.75. I was pleasantly surprised at the bready and sweet flavor of the beer. Here is a description:

One of Belgiums oldest abbeys, Affligem began brewing beer in 1129. Cloudy, golden colour with a thin, yet lasting head. This classic abbey ale finds a nice balance between the sweetness of fruit and the spiciness of a Belgian white beer. The nose is of ripe apples, peaches, and honey with a bready undertone, with a subtly sweet flavor of fruit, honey, and spice. 7% abv.

Looking for a nice beer? Give this one a shot!

Ah! Allagash 4

So, you'll recall that I bought three bottles of Allagash 4 at Specs in Houston.  They've been resting comfortably in our beer fridge since my return.  Saturday, we had a little party to help make space in said fridge for the soon-to-be-released winter warmers that are just around the corner.  (Actually, Joe said I couldn't buy anymore beer because we didn't have any room for diet coke.)  So we offered up our collection to a group of friends, ordered pizza and had a great time.

The highlight of the evening was cracking open one of those bottles of Allagash.  I got out our tasting glasses and poured a healthy shot for all seven of us. 

OMG.  I'd forgotten its sweetness.  Its thick, honey mouthfeel.  Its delicious alcohol warmth.  Its heavenly vanilla/caramel color.  Its addictiveness. 

We all savored our pour, rolling the luscious liquid around in our mouths and licking our lips.  We each upended our glass until the last little drop slid down and hinged perilously on the rim before leaping, finally, into our mouths.  I thought about licking the inside of the glass.

I was sad when my glass was empty...but glad for the find and happy, no, delighted, that I have two more bottles in the fridge.  And, thanks to our friends, more room for soda.

Dogfish Head Theobroma

I missed the tap at the Addison Flying Saucer on Thursday. It was Dogfish Head Theobroma. I was surprised it was still available on Friday when I stopped in. What is that you ask? Here is a description from Beer Advocate:

Theobroma, or "food of the gods," is brewed with Aztec cocoa powder and cocoa nibs from Askinosie Chocolate, honey, ancho chilies, and annatto. The recipe is based on chemical analysis of pottery fragments found in Honduras, which scientists claim is the earliest known alcoholic chocolate drink.

How interesting does that sound?? I had huge expectations and was disappointed. Apparently, I am not the only one. There are many poor reviews on the Beer Advocate page:

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/64/41702

It isn't bad, I just don't taste ANY of the flavors they noted. It is 9%-10% ABV, so you can't complain about that. For the money, there are just better beers out there.

Oh well, it is all about education and experience. It is better to have drunk and been disappointed, than not to have drunk at all. Well, perhaps that isn't the REAL quote, but it is apropo!!

Mikkeller Chipotle Porter ... Chipotle? Really?

The Flying Saucer in Addison was scheduled to tap Mikkeller Chipotle Porter a month ago, but there was a tap malfunction and they rescheduled to the last Thursday in September. I have been waiting a month for this beer. And it was good and worth the wait. It came out brownish black with a beautiful creamy brown head. It smelled of prune and tasted great ... except, I didn't taste any chipotle. According to the reviews, the chipotle flavor was supposed to come through at the end. Scott even tasted it, but not me. It is a great porter that borders on being a stout, but sadly, for me, there was no chipotle.

I So Need a Job at Specs

Actually, I'd be happy if we just had a Specs in Dallas.  Specs is this gigantic beer, wine and spirits store.  They also have wonderful fresh deli, gourmet foods and awesome snacks.  There's a really great one in Houston just outside of downtown.  And I went there today.

I must confess, I went on a spree.  I hit the mother lode right off the bat.  Three, count 'em, three, bottles of Allagash 4.  Can I get an AMEN!  Next, I found Left Hand Oktoberfest (which I had just sampled at the Houston Flying Saucer)...yippee!  Then there was the Breckenridge Autumn...can't wait to try that.  And I couldn't resist the Flyin' Dog Gonzo (Hunter S. Thompson) Imperial Stout, or the Des Chutes Obsidian Porter.  I'm gonna need a bigger beer fridge.

Of course I struck up a conversation with the beer guy, and we exchanged recommendations.  We talked about our mutual love of seasonal beers: Oktoberfests, pumpkin ales, autumn browns.  He asked me if I wanted a job there.

Oh, hell, yes!!

It's Pumpkin Season

I'm a big BIG fan of pumpkin pie (well, Fall foods, in general).  And I love it (I don't know how they do it), but I love it when those flavors show up in one of my other favorite things - beer.

Hear me out!  Spices: nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice.  Flavors: vanilla, pumpkin, buttery crust.  IN A BEER.

Try 'em.  But hurry...they won't be around long.

Dogfish Head Pun'kin Ale
Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale
Brooklyn Post Road Pumpkin Ale
Blue Moon Harvest Moon
Sam Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale
Magic Hat Hex (not really pumpkin-y, but a damn fine seasonal beer)

Close your eyes.  Take a good sniff and picture a slice of pie, complete with whipped cream and brown flaky crust.  Then sip.  Roll it around in your mouth.  Yum! 

Hey, Sammy, I'm talking to you.  Give it a shot.  You can spit it out if you want, but if you don't at least try it, then I'll feel like a bigger beer snob than I already am.  ;-)

Like Taking Body Shots Off of Aunt Jemima

If you read seewhatwedidtodayblog.com, my apologies for the re-write...

At the Saucer today, we tried a new brew from Tommyknockers brewery in Idaho Springs in Colorado. After reading the description of this beer, I was so excited to try it: delicate maple syrup, nuttiness, caramel and chocolate all wrapped up in a brown ale. Wow! Let's get to drinkin'.

Emily, our beer goddess, poured it up for us, and I noticed that it didn't "glug" out of the bottle, like so many of my favorite dark beers do...it just sort of fell out. The pour was dark with very little head, but, hey, I think dark beers are always a bit surprising. Hand that over here.

I took one whiff and damn near went ass over teakettle. Good god! WTF? The maple was sooo overpowering, I thought surely there was a short stack heading my way. I set it down and drank some water to get back to an even keel.

When I regained consciousness after the insulin coma, I finally took a swig. Now to be fair, Joe loved this beer. I likened drinking it to french kissing Mrs. Butterworth. It was sooooo maple-y. I could just as easily been snuggling up next to a sugar maple and sucking on the spout. OMFG!! The inside of my mouth felt sticky...and not in a good way. The beer itself was thin, but the after-effect was all sugar, pulling at the enamel of my teeth and coating the roof of my mouth. Ick.

I thought Joe was ready to move into the Log Cabin, lock, stock and barrel. He slurped and suckled at Aunt Jemima's teat until with was dry. And, for a moment, he considered ordering a second one...I gave him the last half of mine. Yes. I made it halfway through. I kept hoping that it would grow on me; that maybe at any moment the urge to go to the Waffle House would pass. It still hasn't.

I was so thankful to move on to the next beer: An Ugly Pug from Fort Worth brewery, Rahr and Sons. I guess I should also be thankful that when I got up to go to the ladies room that I didn't stick to the chair.

De-Lish!

I just got home from a long business trip and was too tired to be concerned with dinner, so we ordered from Chili's.

They have a new rib sauce: honey chipotle.  Oh my goodness.  Those are some good ribs, boy.  And while I expect a honey beer (like Sierra Nevada Kellerweiss) would be really, really good with them, I had a Brooklyn Oktoberfest.  And THAT was a mitey good choice.

The sauce is smokey and spicy, sweet and sticky.  It has some good heat and tons of flavor.  I know.  I licked plenty of it off my lips and fingers.  It's really good, and I totally recommend it.  But get it "to go" as I seriously doubt Chili's will have much other than Bud Light and Miller Lite (maybe a Shiner) to offer to go with.  I much prefer the choices in MY beer fridge.

Mmmmm.  Baby back ribs and honey chipotle.  De-Lish!

Plates and Saucers

Ta da!  Our plates (or a close facimile of them) at the Saucer. 

And the Saucers are tapping their Oktoberfests! 

Saint Arnold's
Sam Adams
New Belgium
Warsteiner
Spaten
Brooklyn
Hacker-Pschorr
Paulaner
and
Shiner

So get out there and get to drinkin'!  Oktoberfests are generally wonderful blends of hops and malts, spices and just the right fizz.  Color varies from light copper to rich amber.  And the abv is usually about 5%.  Oktoberfests are great session beers and typically not on the shelf too long.  So go on a tasting spree!  I'm absolutely certain you'll find something you'll like.

Whoo Hoo!!

Well, it's official!  Joe and I are Masters of the Universe.  (I pretty much was anyway, but I love the affirmation.  I'm just sayin'.)

This Saturday we'll celebrate with our friends and then do the only logical next thing...start on our second plate!

We've Done It!

We've drunk 200 different beers at the Flying Saucer and earned our first plates.  Joe had a Lone Star, a Boulevard Wheat and an Around the World Taster.  Of all the beers from around the world, of all the beer I could have had and have had, I decided today would be a Texas beer day.  I had a Lone Star, a Live Oak Pilz and a Live Oak Hefe.  Here's my 200th beer.

The Live Oak Hefe with an orange slice.  Very nice.  Cloudy, wheat-y and full of banana and clove flavors. It was really good.  We ripped up my "Beers I Haven't Tasted" list and used it for confetti.

So on Thursday, we'll go and swipe our cards and get credit for drinking 200 beers.  We'll start all over again for our second plate. And our party and plate presentation will be on Saturday. 

I know it's not like being an Eagle Scout or making the grade to play pro ball or anything, but it's something pretty cool, among friends.  And since I haven't finished a lot of things in my life: my novel, my house redecoration, my laundry today, I'm looking forward to our toast next Saturday and the realization that I have, in fact, finished something. 

And it was good, too, hon!

How Similar!

Tracy, Joe and I are at the Flying Saucer. One of the new beers is Lagunitas A Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale. So, Joe and I order it. When I sniffed the beer a definite orange aroma came through. Tracy further refined it as candied orange. It was a delightful beer. So, later, when it came time for Tracy to order another beer, she went for A Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale herself. But, when it came, she noted it was NOT A Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale. She surmised it was Lagunitas IPA. Remember, she is a true beer nerd. I tasted it and also noted, it was NOT the beer she ordered. Tracy lets our server know that this isn't the right beer. Our server thinks it might be, but she brought a taster for each of the two beers to the table. Interestingly, there is also an orange smell to the IPA, but not nearly as orange as the ale. They were almost the same color. It was a fun experiment to taste two beers from the same brewer that ended up being so similar, yet different.

Try your own compare and contrast between beers you find similar. What were your results??

Chipotle Porter

Somethings are too good they just won't wait.

We were wandering down the beer aisle in Central Market this afternoon, when I spotted Mikkeller Chipotle Porter.  This is a beer I've been looking forward to...the Saucer is tapping it on August 26th.  But, yeah, I'm just not gonna wait.

We chilled it a bit more and then drank it with dinner: grilled jalapeno and cheddar sausages w/Sierra Nevada Porter mustard.  Oh my goodness, life is good.

This is a wonderful beer.  It pours like chocolate syrup, but darker.  The head is huge and dark mocha colored.  Lots of chocolate and coffee with just a hint of the spicy chipotle.  Of course, after a few sips, the heat begins to build.  I taste salt and spice, chocolate and roasty malts.  This is one damn fine beer.

But just like anything else...maybe there's something out there that's better...Mikkeller Chipotle Porter on draught.  Good things come to those who wait.  And to those who cruise the beer aisle at Central Market.

Southern Star - Buried Hatchet Stout - Revisited

This was the beer at Tap Night tonight at the Saucer.  Sure, we've had it in the fridge.  In a can.  But let me tell you...tapped...surely the better way to go. 

Semi-sweet chocolate morsels, married with day old coffee, some vanilla and a dash of alcohol makes for a mighty fine beer.  I wish I'd had some chocolate to eat with it.  I guess I'll have to just be happy with the bonus brewery pint glass we got for ordering it.  (I know...I didn't even HAVE to steal it!)

This is one of those beers that you drink and think..."Hey, the alcohol is not that big."  Hah!  Yeah!  A couple of these would totally prove you wrong.  But you'd have such a good buzz goin' on you wouldn't even really care. 

This is a great beer in the can.  It's an outstanding beer on tap.  Give it a shot.  You won't be disappointed.  Take some dark chocolate...you won't wanna leave the bar.

Almost A Master of the Universe

As of today, Joe and I are 20 beers away from our first plate in the Ring of Honor at the Flying Saucer.

20! 

We started our quest to drink 200 different beers in March of 2008.  At first, we were very casual about it.  We went once in March, once in April, then didn't have another Saucer beer until September! Oh, I'm sure we were drinking on our own, but we didn't really start frequenting the FS until January of 2009.  So, I suppose we could have reached 200 long ago, if we'd been paying attention. 

Now we're down to 20, and we're going again today...so, 17 by this evening.

See, we're on a mission.  The Sammys are coming to town the 27th, so we're hoping to hit 200 either while they're here (so we can celebrate) or before (so we can claim our $200 toast...and celebrate).  Six more times in the next three weeks.  Yes! We Can!

The best part about drinking all this beer is that I, well, both of us, have really learned a lot about it.  We've hosted a tasting.  We've got all of our friends trying new things.  We're exercising our sense of smell and taste, and learning to describe what's going on in our mouths.   We're sort of all in this together: us, the Reverend, the Sammys...and you can bet everyone else we know when they get wind that we have a $200 toast to spend.

The downside is the extra weight we've ended up carrying around.  I was bemoaning the tonnage to the Rev, saying that, other than an extraordinary amount of beer consumption (both at the Saucer, at home and every other chance we get), we really haven't changed anything else in our diet.  So, it's either the beer or age that's getting the best of our waistlines (and I refuse to accept that second reason...I'm sure Joe does, too).

Bottom line?  It's been fun.  It's been educational.  It's been social.  It's been interesting.  It's been a blast.  And, yeah, we're soooo doing it again.

Cheers!

I Miss The Saucer

I've been away at a conference all week.  I traveled last week.  And have just been busy, in general.  Joe and I only have 26 or so more beers to reach 200 and become Masters of the Universe with a plate on the wall.  I'm getting a little concerned that we're not going to make it before friends come at the end of August.

Well, I'm not THAT concerned.  I'm sure we can start making time this weekend.  We're going to skip our home-based Saucer and venture out to the one on Lake Ray Hubbard.  They have a very different menu, for both beer and food.  Looking forward to trying out some new stuff.

I've been in Vegas at a resort that sports a Yard House (great beer/restaurant chain).  As good as that is...I really miss the Saucer.  I'll bet they miss me, too.

Yeah. Right.

For our gentlemen readers:  just because it's posted on the Internet, that doesn't mean it's true.  Don't be seduced by misinformation like the following.  Read and discuss:

Beer contains female hormones! Yes, that's right, FEMALE hormones!
 
Last month, Montreal University and scientists released the results of a
recent analysis that revealed the presence of female hormones in beer. Men should take a concerned look at their beer consumption. The theory is that beer contains female hormones (hops contain Phytoestrogens) and that by drinking enough beer, men turn into women.
 
 To test the theory, 100 men each drank 8 schooners of beer within a one (1) hour period. 
 
 It was then observed that 100% of the test subjects, yes, 100% of all these men:-
 
1) Argued over nothing.
2) Refused to apologize when obviously wrong.
3) Gained weight.
4) Talked excessively without making sense.
5) Became overly emotional
6) Couldn't drive.
7) Failed to think rationally, and
8) Had to sit down while urinating. 
 
No further testing was considered necessary!

Wow! It's Been A While

But don't despair.  I haven't stopped drinking beer.  Just been on a little vacation and now I'm at a week-long conference.  The best part?  I just discovered that this hotel has a Yard House in it.  I expect to visit it several times and will report back.  Promise! 

Meanwhile, check out this beer of the day yesterday...

COCOA PORTER

Tommyknocker Brewery & Pub, Idaho Springs, Colorado

This porter pours dark brown, with reddish tints and beige foam—a bit lighter than your average porter, but about on target for a brown ale. Lots of sweet cocoa and caramel malt hang around in the aroma. In the flavor, there’s no indication of alcohol content, but there isn’t a whole lot of that in this winter warmer, which might be classified as a brown porter. No harsh grain bitterness, either, and not much hop character at all; finish is long, but not too sweet, with lots of chocolate flavor. Though honey is featured, it’s indistinguishable from the overall chocolate-cakey, cocoa flavor. A nice dessert porter, very approachable and not too thick or overly sweet.

Yeah...I'd totally hate that!!

Tonight's Tap at the Flying Saucer

Tonight, the Flying Saucer in Addison tapped Harpoon Leviathan Big Bohemian Pilsner.  Let me just say, what's not to love about a pilsner.  Especially this one!

Came to the table in a snifter.  A beautiful pale orange with a thin white head.  There didn't seem to be any big nose to it...it seemed really light.  In fact, I was really surprised at the taste...compared to the nose.  It's nicely sweet...a big caramel flavor jumps out right up front.  After a beat, I got the lemony zest.  The Reverend's reaction was just the opposite...he got the lemon first, then the sweet.  (He always was a bit backwards.)

After another beat, I began to taste a little bite of hops and feel the alcohol (9% abv).  I couldn't drink a lot of these, but one or two sure would be good.  Really good!

Something to Look For and Forward To

So I'm surfing Flying Saucer's site and notice on their calendar that Tap Night August 26th is Mikkeller Chipotle Porter.  Good God! 

Beer Advocate reviewers say:

A: Pours a deep black with a huge white head that slowly fades leaving a ton of lacing on the glass. Probably the best looking porter I've ever seen.

S: The nose is full of cocoa and milk chocolaty aromas. I can also detect a slight hop presence in the background.
T: Taste is chocolate malts, milk chocolate, dark fruits, slight hops in the background, and on the finish you can taste a bit of the heat and spiciness from the peppers. You can feel the pepper heat on your tongue and lips get hotter and hotter as you drink this.
M: The feel is creamy and relatively thick with a good amount of carbonation.
D: This is one tasty porter. With the huge amount of flavors and the thick mouthfeel it's amazing this is just a 6.6% beer. Drinking one of these in a night will probably be enough though.

Although one guy said he didn't really like it as a drinking beer, but seriously thought about using it as a marinade!

Let's see...a spicy dark beer.  Hmmmm...sounds right up my alley!  I am soooo going to start looking for this to get a taste before the tap. 

On another note, Joe and I shared a Pauwel Kwak last night.  Delicious!  A Strong Belgian Ale that's a perfect example of why I like Strong Belgian Ales so much...it tastes like liquid caramel apples.  A great one to sip and enjoy for a good long time.

Sammy Savors Santa Fe

It goes without saying that a trip to Santa Fe means a feast for the senses: fine food, cold beer, refreshing mountain breezes, and enough world-class art to hold you over until your next trip to Italy.  We sampled as much as we could in our scant 48-hour jaunt.

We started with lunch at Sadie's in Albuquerque (thanks for the recommendation, Carol!), where we tried a micro brewery beer called Outlaw from Rio Grande/Sierra Blanca Brewing Company (Moriarty, NM).  Yum! http://www.sierrablancabrewery.com/

Next was a fun stop at the Santa Fe Brewery. In its tasting room, SFB offers a sampler with eight 4 oz. samples (+ 3 in this case)--you do the math.  I won't reveal which was which, but one of us had the sampler and one of us had a single.  Let's just say that the one who had the sampler looked a little fuzzy before it was all over.

  

After a turn around the Plaza, we stopped in at the Catamount, a perennial favorite watering hole, where we enjoyed a Santa Fe Nut Brown, which is probably my favorite beer right now (apologies to Shiner 101).

More walking, more shopping . . . and what do you know?  It's time for dinner!  That first evening we split a blue cheese burger at the Tune-Up Diner, which has been featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Yum!  (Fun fact for you insiders:  the Tune-Up Diner is the establishment formerly known as Dave's Not Here Anymore.)

Wednesday, 6:30 a.m.--a wonderful stroll up and down Canyon Road, where we saw some mighty fine artwork.  (Oh yeah. Breakfast was a chocolate croissant at La Fonda Bakery. Delectable!)

We passed a happy couple of  hours in the Chuck Jones Gallery and some other favorite haunts, and decided to have lunch at the cutest little Italian cafe that we just happened upon.  We had a Pizza Margherita and Mista salads, enjoyed with a Stella Artois (me) and a State Pen Porter (him).  May I just convey what a pleasure it was to enjoy a Pizza Margherita prepared by someone who gets it that it's supposed to represent the colors of the Italian flag (red, white, and green), and therefore you MUST include the fresh basil chiffonade or it's just a cheese-and-tomato pizza!  Anyway...

Wednesday afternoon brought soothing mountain rain showers and dandy massages at Ten Thousand Waves (choirs of angels burst into song here).  Ahhhhhhhhh.

http://www.tenthousandwaves.com/

After the massage, we were so mellow that when we stopped in at the Catamount, this time we decided to just order dinner while we were at it. I fondly refer to this as the "rainbow meal."  I had stacked blue corn chicken enchiladas with red AND green chile; he had fish tacos dripping with confetti cole slaw and some kind of delicious spicy sauce.  But the star of this meal, believe it or not, was the beverage.  We asked the waitress if they could do a Black and Tan because we both wanted to try one.  Answer: no, because they don't have Bass.  But she offered us an alternative:  a Black and Blue, which is a Guinness stout poured over a Blue Moon.  The Verdict:  Yum-O.  Try it.  It's awesome.

So, Thursday already.  Today we go home. :-P  But we squeezed in a little more shopping and a stop at Tecolote Cafe (another one from DDD) for a big breakfast.  He had a perfectly-prepared Santa Fe Omelette with some kick-ass chile; I had French toast prepared with homemade honey blue cornbread with warm peach sauce and maple syrup.  Yeah, it was as good as it sounds.  It rocked.  Even without beer. ;-)

So we shopped around and piddled and packed and what do you know!  We can have lunch before we hit the road!  So we opted for another perennial favorite, the Plaza Grill.  We split a green chile cheeseburger with fries and washed it down with another NM brew, Monk's Ale.  Again, a delightful little beer that would be worth making the drive to Tucumcari for a six pack on a boring weekend.

It was a great (but far too short) trip, the perfect battery-charger before the craziness of August snags us in its clutches to begin another nine-month round.  Waaaaaaaa!

Next time, y'all come with us!

A Little Contest

I'm holding a little contest in my beer fridge.  The winner will be the beer that can prove to me it's the best summertime beer.  IMHO, that means a beer that's refreshing, drinkable over several hours by the pool and grill, but still full of flavor.

For several months now, I have not been able to go to Central Market without picking up an interesting six pack or two.  I'm still on the hunt for Allagash 4 (see note below), so I continue to stop into beer stores...and when I can't find Allagash, I pick up something else.  So for the next two months I've decided to focus on lighter, summertime brews (because I've been loving the porters and stouts for quite a while now...but they're tough to drink all day poolside).

Current leader is Bombshell Blonde brewed in Conroe, Texas by Southern Star Brewery.  But yesterday I saw a Deschuttes summer beer, Twilight.  That'll be on my shopping list next week. 

I'll keep you posted on the smackdown and let you know which brew I think is the winner.  If you have suggestions for contestants, let me know!

Note on Allagash:  Thanks to eagle-eye Sammy, who was perusing their website, she spotted this little note: Special Message: Due to an unprecedented demand for our beer, Allagash recently had to pull out of some territories. We love all of our markets, are expanding capacity as quickly as possible and working hard to assure that we are back on your shelves soon. We apologize for any inconvenience and/or lack of beer drinking that this has caused. Thanks for your patience.  Hope springs eternal!

Can we do field research on this one? Please?

Turks Head Beer, brewed at a small micro brewery in Providenciales in the Turks & Caicos. 

What No Beer Bloggerette Should Be Without

Wow - Dogfish Black and Blue

'member when you were a kid and you drank, like, a berry or a black cherry soda?  Well tonight's tap at the Saucer was Dogfish Black and Blue, and it really was like a berry soda.  Sweet, but not syrup-y, carbonated, but not to distraction.  Full of berry flavors, but not too Strawberry Shortcake.  It was really good.  And at 10-11% abv (no one could really peg it) it went right to my head.  Awesome!

I wish I really had some strawberry shortcake to go with it.

And after I finished the Black and Blue, I treated myself to a Guinness. 

I hadn't had one in a really long time.  What I noticed was...all the flavor that I remember, but now, now that I have a little more knowledge about beer, and a more sophisticated palate, I was really able to pick out and identify the flavors that I was tasting.  Let me just say this.  Guinness is a really solid, really good stout. 

Can I get a shot of Bailey's so I can chug it?

Hmmm What Beer Should I Have With My Lunch?

Lunch?  A delicious iceberg wedge with real bacon, chunky blue cheese dressing, french fried onions, more creamy blue cheese crumbles, salt/pepper/balsamic vinegar-tossed tomatoes and cold buffalo shrimp.

The beer: Flying Dog Woody Creek White.  A Witbier.  And pretty darn good!

It's Tap Night at the Flying Saucer

I could see tonight's rare beer keg tapping coming from a mile away.  It was Avery's Samael's. Good God-A-Mitey.

Who the fuck is Samael?  Well, Samael is an important archangel in Talmudic and post-Talmudic lore.  (Are you with me now???)  He is a figure who is an accuser, seducer, and destroyer.  (Not to be confused with the Keymaster or the Gatekeeper.)  He has been regarded as both good and evil (I can totally see that).  He is considered in legend both a member of the heavenly host (with often grim and destructive duties) and a fallen angel, equal with Satan and the chief of the evil spirits. And he makes one hellova beer.

Samael's is part of an Avery Brewing Company triumvirate: The Beast, Mephistopheles' and Samael's.  All uber-high alcohol content, and I'm sure, all delicious. 

But at the Saucer tonight they were tapping just the Samael's.  But not until 5pm.  The Reverend, Joe and I met up for the tapping, but we were early.  So we had a warm-up beer.  At a few seconds before five, our awesome beergoddess, Maggie, brought us each a Samael's.  I was still working on my 512 ONE, but Joe and the Rev dove in. 

The funniest bit was when the Rev simply sucked off some of the foam and immediately gave the brew two OMFGs (apparently his new scale for measuring the enjoyability of a beer), then said, "fuck it," and went in two-fisted!

(Sorry if the pic is a little blurry.  I'd been drinking.)

Samael's is super caramel-y with plenty of vanilla and floral notes.  It's also got a raisin or some other sweet fruit in the background.  Not to mention a whopping 16.45% abv.  That's not a typo.  16.45%.  GodJesus.

It is an amazing beer.  Sweet.  Floral.  Creamy.  Decadent.  Would be good with some toffee.  Don't think you could drink more than two and not HAVE to take a nap.  Hell.  It's taken me about two hours to write this post.

Oh, my holy fucking god.  That is one fine beer.  I really want to taste the other two, now.  Perhaps we'll have to have a private tasting. 

This beer is evil...but in a really, really good way.

And Speaking of Crying

I just found out today that our favorite beer store, The Majestic, is closing!  Dammit!  Three stores in the metroplex are closing...their shelves are nearly bare.  It's heartbreaking.  I think the company is based in east Texas, and the owner has filed for bankruptcy.  Maybe they'll reorganize and reopen, but for now, we're going to have to search for a replacement.  Sniff.

Still no Allagash...but there's been a sighting at The Meddlesome Moth.  Hope springs eternal.

Never Cry Over Spilled Beer

We were at the Flying Saucer yesterday for lunch, and I ordered a Texas Flight - five Texas brews including, Real Ale Fireman's 4, Franconia Kristall, Live Oak Pils, St. Arnold's Texas Wheat and Franconia Dunkel. 

The flight comes in a round tin tray with a paper menu in the bottom.  My menu was off-center and, therefore, obscuring the right side of the it against the rim of the tray.  I tried to just pull the paper to center it, but in doing so, tipped the Fireman's just a bit, spilling a little onto the paper.

But no boo-hooing here...

This is how they should take care of the spill in the gulf.  And Hayward should suck it.  And stop looking at my boobs.  ;-)

Sharin' a Dead Guy

Joe and I are sharin' a Dead Guy this evening.  No.  Really.  ;-) 

Rogue's Dead Guy Ale is a misnomer.  Dead Guy isn't an ale at all.  It's actually a Maibock, a kind of bock beer, and bocks are actually lagers.  Go figure.  Maibocks tend to be lighter in color than traditional bocks and have a significant hop character and noticeable alcohol (between 6 and 8% abv)...that's what makes it sooo good.  Maibocks usually are served in the spring and are brewed in celebration of and alongside festivals in the month of May.  Thankfully Dead Guy is year round.

It pours a beautiful dark orange color with a little cloudiness.  Caramel is prominent with maybe a little raisin in the background.  Good carbonation but a velvety feel.  Heavens.  A totally enjoyable beer. 

I'm still on the prowl for Allagash.  It's the weekend and I've got a car and money.

Great Divide Espresso Oak-Aged Yeti

Tracy had this beer back in April. I was at the Flying Saucer, and after the Fire Sale of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, I needed a second beer. Our server, who was only on her third day was throwing out beers, most of which I had already tried. When she mentioned the Great Divide Espresso Oak-Aged Yeti, I knew I had to have it today. It comes in a 24.75 ounce bottle. It pours like used motor oil ... and I mean this in the greatest possible way! It is black, with a brown head and thick. It only took one taste for the Espresso flavor to come through. You also get a nice chocolate flavor as well. I almost asked for a taster of some vanilla ice cream to add to this beer. It is that friggin' good. They are very proud of this beer at $14 per bottle. But, lets be real, there are only a handful of beers that taste this awesome.

You can read a better description and see a picture of the bottle at Tracy's other blog: SeeWhatWeDidToday - I Did A Yeti Today

What Do You Mean "Where Have I Been"?

I've been searching high and low for Allagash 4.  Sadly with no luck whatsoever.  I'm beginning to hear whispers that what we fear is true...it's being retired.  Heavens to Murgatroyd!  (Extra points if you can name that cartoon...the character and production company).

But I have not given up completely.  There are two large-ish package stores in the greater Dallas area which I haven't yet been to.  Their beer guys are knowledgeable, so I'm holding onto hope.

Stay tuned.

The Elusive Allagash Four

Hold the phone.  After a bit of research, turns out that there was an Oak Barrel Aged Allagash Four that's been retired, but the regular brew is still in production...  Let there be hope! 

More after the beer store opens tomorrow.

Sammy Needs a Beer

We love the TV show Burn Notice.  And one of the things we love the most is the character Sam Axe, played to perfection by Bruce Campbell.  And one of the many things we love about Sam is that Sam is never so busy playing wing man for Michael or keeping Fi from blowing up half of Miami that he can't stop for a cold one.  He once gave Michael a 5-pack for his birthday-is that friendship or what?  He even remembered the stick-on bow! 

Sammy had to have been an original Parrothead.  He was probably the prototype.

So on our beer-swilling, stuff-your-face vacation across Central and Coastal Bend Texas this last week, we've adopted a new slogan for ourselves: "Sammy Needs a Beer." Says it all--suitable for any occasion, any audience, any time.  Cause there are so many occasions when Sammy needs a beer, and we have pledged to each other that we will invoke the spirit of Sammy early and often.

So today, Sammy decided to take a field trip to Spec's to make a couple of purchases and find out what all the fuss is about with this Allagash Four. 

And you wanna know what Sammy found out?  Spec's guy told Sammy that Allagash Four is over, finito, done.  Allagash has left the building.  If you ain't already got it, you ain't gonna git it.  Those party-poopers up in Portland, ME aren't making any more.  What, they ran out of hops?  No Allagash Four for Sammy.

So we're at this very moment sampling an Allagash White.  Nice, but not inspiring us to poetry or purple prose or religious epiphanies.

Damn!  I was looking forward to a religious epiphany.  I know how the Reverend loves those.

Guess we'll nurse our wounds with a Young's Double Chocolate Stout float.  And maybe some more ribs at Salt Lick.

Allagash Four

Prose Schmoze.  The Reverend's right...omg...this is a really good beer.  I'm tasting sweet plum and almost strawberry, or something just as sweet.  It's nose is totally inviting.  Sweet.  Beckoning.  Rich.  And then you taste it.  Oh my god, this is one damn good beer.  It's called Allagash 4 becase there are four malts, four hops, four sugars and it's fermented four times.  Jeezy Crizzy.  This is close to the perfect beer.  It's fruity, malty, drinkable, delicious.  It's like drinking candy.  While it's not a session beer, you want to drink more...and more.  It's rich, sort of creamy, definitely smooth and totally drinkable.  You could get durnk on this.  Easily.  Ridiculously easy.  Go...find it...drink it.  Enjoy.  A lot.  Fucking a lot.

Allagash Four

So, I got a snifter of Alagash Four ... I took a sip ... OMFG! This is like the perfect beer. I can't even describe why, it just is. I will let Tracy shower you with prose and perfect description of the beer. Just know, it is SO WORTH trying!!

Chocolate Covered Cherry

OMG, y'all.  If you like these little bites of heaven (or cherry tootsie pops, if you can't handle the syrupy, sticky middle of the bon bon), here's a drink for you.  

I'm not exactly sure of the measurements; you can play with it until it suits your taste.  Start with Young's Double Chocolate Stout.

Pour about a three quarter serving into the glass (I was using frosted pints, but I think a snifter would have been better).  Add to the Young's about 2 - 3 oz of Lindeman's Kriek Lambic. 

The Kriek is flavored with black cherries, and, combined with the deliciousness that is Young's, made for a truly tasty dessert.  Would have been good over ice cream...maybe next time.

Rogue is Becoming One of My Favorites

The brewery from Newport, Oregon is fast becoming one of my favorite.  Hazelnut Brown Nectar is a prime example; Chocolate Stout, another.  But the hands-down, god-a-mitey current favorite is Shakespeare Stout.  A pure chocolate delight that pours like motor oil.  It has a beautiful saddle colored head and an aroma that you can smell clear across the room. 

Try it with a piece of dark chocolate.  Make sure you have more than one on hand.  You don't even have to speak the King's English.  Of course, after a couple, no one cares.

Southern Star - Buried Hatchet Stout

After a couple of days' respite from the demon brew (yeah...right), I celebrated my revived interest with a beer out of Conroe, TX. 

Conroe is down by Houston, and they're the same folks who brewed the Bombshell Blonde we had at the tasting Saturday night.  Both the Bombshell and the Buried Hatchet come in cans.

Tonight's beer was Buried Hatchet Stout.  A delicious coffee/chocolate, alcohol-laden (8.5), almost chewy, rich choice.  I didn't pour it (I'm just that lazy - but the brew didn't suffer from it); I drank it like a man: right out of the can.  I DID get a sense that it had a good caramel-y head, and, even without the benefit of an aerating pour, it was smooth and creamy in my mouth.  I popped a Dove Dark Chocolate w/Almonds chunk of chocolate with it.  It's a wonder I ever even leave the house.

I could easily be talked into having a second and...even a third.

No Cappucino Cookies

So today Chuck and I sampled a Left Hand Milk Stout with Oreos.  Yum.  Then we settled in with a newly-established favorite of mine, Avery White Rascal.  Oh, and yesterday, we tried Sierra Nevada Kellerweiss.  I'm thinkin' we'll be stocking these all summer!

By The Way

A few co-bloggers:  JoeBoy and my friends The Reverend, Mank, Chuck and Cindy hopefully will be chiming in...cuz they drink a lot of beer, too.

Try a Beer Tasting

Last Saturday night we hosted a beer tasting.  We had five categories, each with five beers:

Belgian-Style: Duvel, Brooklyn #2, St. Bernardus Prior 8, Unibroue's La Fin du Monde and Boulevard's Sixth Glass

Ales: Santa Fe Pale Ale, New Belgium's Ranger IPA, Southern Star's Bombshell Blonde, Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale and Rogue's Hazelnut Brown Nectar

Lagers: Full Sail Session, Sam Adams'  Double Bock, North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsner, Harp and Ayinger Ur-Weisse

Porters & Stouts: Sierra Nevada Porter, Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout, Belhaven Scottish Stout, Left Hand Milk Stout and Avery's The Czar

Miscellaneous: Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse, Xingu Black Beer, Black Wattle Original Paulaner Oktoberfest-Marzen and Flying Dog Horn Dog (a Barley Wine) 

We tasted each set one by one and all drank the same beer at the same time, then discussed.  Because there were soooo many beers, we deviated from the standard three-ounce pour and opted for two ounces (or less)...just to help keep our wits about us.  Fail ;-)

We served a sampling of really good cheeses, some olive tapenade, sliced apples and plain almonds with the Belgian set.  Pizza (cheese, pepperoni and supreme choices) with the Ales and Lagers.  Cappuccinno cookies, chocolate-covered espresso beans and lots of different chocolates were the pairings for the porters and stouts.  And finally for the Misc. category, we set out big crunchy pretzels and a couple of styles of mustard.

I have to say that my favorite part, aside from the tasting and the actually party itself, was the decision-making process and the shopping.  I guess I love to shop, no matter what it's for.  And it can get expensive, depending on your beer selections.  But to ease the cost, you could ask that each guest either chip in OR bring a particular style of beer and be surprised at your final choices.

I'm a bit of a control freak, so, for me, it was nice to do the shopping myself.  Knowing what beers we were tasting, I was able to do up a "menu" and then pull information about each of the beers.  I think having this information for everyone helped them learn why they liked certain beers over others.

Finally, it's important that you have enough room to pull off something like this.  We planned for 14 people.  So 14 x 2 (ounces per pour) = 28 (minimum) ounces for any given beer.  We bought as many single beers as we could (it's nice that so many stores these days let you build your own six-pack).  For beers of 12oz or less, we bought three singles.  Or a full six-pack when we didn't have a choice.  Larger beers like the 22oz bombers, we had to buy two.  I know...math is hard, and I suck at it.  Anyway, be sure you have the room...either a bunch of coolers and plenty of ice or a nice beer fridge.  This is what our beer fridge looked like before the party.

Granted, we already HAD beer in the fridge...it's what's in the door and in the drawers (the Coors Light is NOT ours).  I love the way the top shelf is sagging...classic!

It's also a good idea to stock up on Chaser or Excedrin.  Trust me.  When I opened the fridge the next day:

I'm just sayin'.

I've Been Thinking About This For A While

I wanted to create a space to talk about all the good beers that I've been drinking lately and look forward to tracking down and trying.  Several of us joined the UFO club at our local Flying Saucer and have been enjoying some damn good beer ever since. 

I've also been learning a lot about the different types of beers.  Who knew there was soooo much more out there beyond my daddy's pull tab choices.  (Well, yeah, most of you.  Shut up.  I get it.) 

So I'll be posting at least every week, if not more.  And I've got a couple of co-bloggers in mind, too.  So check back, comment and keep in touch!

Cheers