Hosting a Beer Tasting

Almost four years ago, Joe and I hosted a beer tasting party for our new friends in Denver.  There we were, beer lovers in a truly beer-loving state; we couldn't wait to drop some knowledge on our Colorado friends in hopes that they would get the beer itch - and scratch it with us.

The whole idea of a tasting is to introduce great (and various) beers alongside perfectly paired food in order to bring out the characteristics of each beer.  So many folks hate an IPA because "it's so bitter."  But pair it with some rich spicy food, and the malty backbone and balance of the beer will shine through.  Food makes all the difference in how we discern flavors - and the distinct traits - in different beer styles.

First you have to decide what beers you're going to serve.  This, could take months.  There are so many styles from which to choose.  You have to whittle it down somehow.  Maybe pick only Belgian beers, or only porters and stouts.  Hell, you could just do IPAs - East Coast, West Coast, Double, fruit-infused, dry-hopped, fresh-hopped, single-hopped...do you get my point?

Second is to decide what food goes best with each of your choices.  And make sure that your crowd tastes the appropriate beer with the appropriate food.  A rich chocolate torte does not go well with a grapefruit Shandy.  A light tuna salad is stomach turning with a big imperial porter.  A quick bit of research can help you select the pairings.

Finally, the beers and food you choose have to be accessible.  Don't put out an out-of-production cellared brew that no one else can get...save that for a bottle share.  And don't offer some insanely priced Madagascar delicacy.  Offer beers and foods that anyone can find.  If someone really likes a pairing, they'll want to be able to go out and recreate it for themselves.

The pdf attached here is the tasting notebook I so teacherly handed out to our tasters.  Each style was addressed separately, and we gave specific directions about which food should accompany each beer.  The party was a noteworthy success, and I've been told that most everyone has kept the handout as a reference guide for their beer drinking forays.  I hope you can use it, too!

WadingIn.com

Finally!  I've got a website that serves as a repository for all my favorite things: beer, travel, cooking, and random thoughts (I have soooo many).

wadingin.com

Check it out!

But, hey, this is the beer blog...so here's a beer story:  Today was the opening pre-sale day for the Great American Beer Fest!  Joe and I have tickets in hand for Thursday and Friday.

We've been to the GABF four times (2012-2015), but didn't go last year because we were renovating our new house and getting ready to move in; there was just way too much going on.  But we're back in the saddle this year, and I can't wait - 850 breweries and 3800 beers!

Clearly the GABF is one of - if not THE - largest beer fests in the world.  It's a crazy maze of brewers from all over the country, sprinkled with a few international brews, to offer an unsurpassed beer experience.  Tasting, brewing, and cooking classes are offered, you can attend the awards ceremony, shop in the bookstore or from the giant merchandise wall, you'll meet brewers, and, of course, taste amazing beer.  My favorite memory is from 2016 when Adam Avery, himself, handed me my pour of PumpKYn.  Awesome!

Two things:  If you want to go, the public sale starts tomorrow on Ticketmaster at 10:00am MDT. Tickets sold out last year in under an hour.  If you want to go next year, join the American Homebrewers Association.  AHA is the host for the party, and if you join (you don't actually have to be a homebrewer, but if you are, they're a great resource) you get advance sales to the GABF.  That's reason enough for me!

I'll be sure to report back on the fest.  In the meantime, Cheers!!

New Look and Coming Soon

It's about time.  After lolling around in retirement for a couple of years, I've finally gotten motivated.  I know, I know...the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

But I'm serious.  I'm developing a website that combines all my loves - traveling, beer, cooking, writing, and, of course, husband Joe.  The site's not quite ready yet, but when published, it will include a page on beers that will link to this blog.  My ultimate goal is to have a platform that showcases just how fun it is to travel, drink, cook, and, well, be me.

So here we are.  This evening, we're drinking the Breckenridge the Nitro Series Dry Irish Stout.  Partly because we can get a badge for it on Untappd, partly because it's St. Patrick's Day Eve, partly because it's New Brew Thursday, but mostly because we're watching basketball, and we're thirsty.  I have one bracket that's already flaming out and one that's still nearly perfect.  Kinda glad I'm not in Vegas.  It's a pretty darn good beer.  It's creamy with a bitter, roasted, malty bite.

Cheers, all!  Happy St. Paddy's Day.  Erin go braless!
Slainte!

Happy 2017!

I just realized it has been some time since I posted here last.  So, here are just some random beer thoughts:

I went to several beer festivals in 2016. The 3 faves? Big Texas Beer Festival (been every year since the beginning), Rails & Ales in Alamosa CO (been twice and enjoy hanging with Tracy & Joe and this year Cindy & Chuck too) and GABF (2nd time to go, this time on the Flying Saucer's dime)

Bell's is coming to Texas in March of 2017. I am kinda excited about this.

I met Dave Engbers, one of the founders of Founder's Brewing. He was an awesome guy who signed a koozie and a bottle of 2016 Backwoods Bastard. Still trying to decide if I drink the beer and keep the bottle or ... what the hell, I will drink it and keep the bottle :)

SweetWater Brewing came to Texas in 2016. I love their 420 Extra Pale Ale.

I finally broke 5,000 unique beers on Untappd. I had WAY TOO many beers in 2016 to accomplish this goal and my waistline proves that.

The one side of chasing so many unique beers is that I often overlook old favorites. I am trying to do that more now, but I do enjoy finding new beers.

I became an Untappd super user in December of 2015. It is kinda cool to be able to make changes and keep the database clean. Something I will share with all Untappd users. If you check in a beer that has fewer than total check ins, take a picture of the menu or tapwall to show the name of the beer. Also, if Untappd is missing vital information, PLEASE propose an edit. If you have a picture of the information on your checkin, it will make it MUCH easier to approve.

I love bottle shares with my friends. Sometimes, they are small shares just to get a badge beer in before it expires. Other times, it is just a general share.  I have found that up to 10 people is a good size group. Big enough to have quite a few beers to try and not so many you can't have at least an ounce of each beer.

Just my random thoughts!!

Enjoy,

Jonathan

You Name It

Some of these beer names are really punny, some creative, and some downright disturbing. 

My personal favorite beer name is 512 Pecan Porter. What's yours?

Fun Beer Names from GABF

What ‘Selling Out’ Is Actually About

I received an email from CraftBeer.com and one of the articles was titled, "What ‘Selling Out’ Is Actually About". I am interested because I am NOT in the industry, rather I am on the outside drinking in!

The article is written by Jacob McKean from Modern Times Beer, a brewery in San Diego.

Even I could have told you some of the claims from big beer were just BS, but couldn't have articulated it as well, nor had the knowledge to give good examples. But, even I thought one of the claims was legit and now know differently, again, insider knowledge goes a long way!

One of our local (well, local to the greater DFW area) breweries, Revolver Brewing, just recently sold out to Miller Coors. I am hopeful that they stay true to their craft beer roots, but only time will tell. My take, again, just as a fan and beer knurd, is that Miller Coors bought them for Blood and Honey, the bread and butter beer for Revolver.

What are your thoughts on craft brewers selling out?

America, Really?

I may not have the highly-developed beer palate of others who post here, but I can tell you this: I have never been a fan of Bud.

Corporate Beer Overlords Will Soon Own 1 of 3 Beers Made on Earth